Eligible candidates may be nominated for the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience during the nomination period that closes on May 31, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. All nominations must be submitted by email.

Last year, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the creation of the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience, in memory of Richard Rescorla.

In case you have never heard of him before, Rick Rescorla was one of the many security officers who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. Rick was the Vice President of Security for Morgan Stanley at its Headquarters in the World Trade Center. While there are many times he could have left the tower prior to its collapse, he did not take that course of action. Rather, he personally led a massive evacuation of Morgan Stanley 2,700 employees located in World Trade Center Tower 2, the South Tower. All but six of Morgan Stanley workers in the South Tower survived.

Rick Rescorla was one of those six who died. Rick was last seen walking back up the stairs of World Trade Center Tower 2 to rescue more people trapped in the building. In 2011, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano honored the memory of Rick Rescorla by presenting the DHS Distinguished Public Service Medal to the widow of Mr. Rescorla.

For more information, please see: http://www.dhs.gov/rick-rescorla-national-award-resilience