The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) announced the recipients of its annual awards during the organization’s annual Capital Forum event on Dec. 7. Each year, NAAG recognizes members of the attorney general community with five awards that acknowledge their contributions in a variety of areas.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine were the recipients of this year’s Kelley-Wyman Award, the Association’s most prestigious honor that is given annually to the attorneys general who have done the most to advance the objectives of NAAG.
The Attorney General Senior Staff of the Year Award, given annually to the individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, expertise, and achievement in service of the attorneys general community and NAAG, was awarded to:
- Eric Montgomery, Chief of Staff, Kansas Attorney General’s Office
- Swain Wood, First Assistant Attorney General, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office
The Attorney General Career Staff of the Year Award, which recognizes a career employee in an attorney general’s office who has distinguished themselves by providing exceptional service to NAAG and the nation’s attorneys general through exemplary expertise and achievement, was awarded to:
- Mychii Snape, Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
- David Thompson, Assistant Attorney General, Oregon Attorney General’s Office
- Crystal Baldwin, Consumer Assistance Program Coordinator, Vermont Attorney General’s Office
The National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute (NAGTRI), NAAG’s research and training arm, recognizes a faculty member who has significantly contributed to developing and presenting quality legal training for their counterparts in attorneys general offices with the NAGTRI Faculty of the Year Award. The 2022 recipients are:
- Vernon Harris, Unit Chief Counsel for Litigation Support Unit, Arizona Attorney General’s Office
- Anna Ward, Special Assistant Attorney General for Victim Assistance/Human Trafficking, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
The Laurie Loveland Award is given to a member of an attorney general’s staff who has evidenced leadership, collaboration, and perseverance in advancing the collective work of the states on tobacco-related issues. The award also recognizes those who have shown a spirit of teamwork and a willingness to share knowledge, assist in developing the skills of others, and work towards the well-being of all, to achieve the benefits of the landmark tobacco settlement. The 2022 recipients are:
- James Hart, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Healthcare Rights and Access Section, California Attorney General’s Office
- Nicholas Ogden, Senior Tobacco Enforcement Counsel, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
- Dona Guffey, Assistant Deputy Attorney General, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office
The inaugural Miller-Wasden Unity Award, created to honor attorneys general for their service and their commitment to civility and bipartisanship, is named for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden. In this first year, the award is given to its namesakes, Attorney General Miller and Attorney General Wasden, to recognize their long service to the attorney general community and their contributions to their states.
Contact media@naag.org for photos of the awards ceremony.