Deputy Attorney General Recognizes District Employee

WASHINGTON – Michelle Martinez, administrative officer for the Camden office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, was one of 179 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 33rd Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington, D.C.

The District of New Jersey was one of 35 districts represented at the ceremony, which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.

In his prepared remarks, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein told the awardees: “These 179 award recipients embody the best of the Department of Justice. Today’s honorees have earned the esteem of their colleagues. But most importantly, you have earned the gratitude of your fellow citizens – whose communities you have made safer, whose lives you have improved, and whose trust you have rewarded.”

Ms. Martinez’s nomination recognizes her exceptional commitment to the Department’s mission and her sustained excellence as an Administrative Support Specialist. She has effectively and efficiently managed the Camden Office for more than a decade and is respected by everyone in the office for her professionalism, dedication and commitment to the Department’s mission.

“Without Michelle’s able assistance, the Camden office simply would not function with the level of efficiency and productivity for which it has come to be known by the judges in the District and by our law enforcement partners,” Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick said. “She is the engine that keeps the office running.”

Ms. Martinez effectively functions as the Administrative Officer for the Camden Office, supervising all of the day-to-day operations and working closely with the General Services Administration (GSA), the EOUSA, the District Court, outside contractors and vendors, and the Office’s budget and human resource officers.

Ms. Martinez oversaw a major renovation of the Camden Office, which is located in a historic federal courthouse. She coordinated on a regular basis with Office leadership, the GSA, EOUSA, and the District Court, reviewing architectural plans, discussing the renovation, and dealing with issues as they arose. She also conceived of and developed the idea to convert unused space in the Office's reception area into three new offices. By carefully managing the office’s overall expenses and minimizing other costs and working with Office leadership, Ms. Martinez was able to find enough room in the budget to permit this construction at substantial cost savings and accommodate the Office’s growing needs.

Ms. Martinez also serves as the legal assistant to the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Attorney-in Charge, and Deputy Attorney-in-Charge, in addition to other line attorneys. She manages all of the personnel who make up the Camden Office’s administrative and support staff, trains new support staff when they enter on duty and supervises the legal assistants in Camden, providing guidance on a daily basis with regard to questions and issues that arise. Ms. Martinez is frequently asked to take on additional special projects, at the request of the U.S. Attorney, the Attorney-in-Charge in Camden, and the Department, and always does so graciously and with great enthusiasm.

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.