Jeffrey H. Bracken of Bracken and Associates, located in Dallas, Texas, has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2013 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. 

As an Examiner, Bracken is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the Baldrige Award. The Board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and non profits (including government). This is Bracken's eleventh consecutive year as an Examiner.

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: Manufacturing, Service, Small Business, Education, Health Care, and Nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 93 organizations, including the 2012 recipients: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas (manufacturing); MESA Products Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma (small business); North Mississippi Health Services, Tupleo, Mississippi (health care); and City of Irving, Irving, Texas (nonprofit).

Information about the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program and the application process is available by calling 301-975-2036, sending an email to baldrige@nist.gov, or going to the Baldrige Program’s web site at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige.

The award Program is managed by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, part of NIST, in close cooperation with the private sector. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) assists the program, under contract, with logistics of the application review process, preparation of award documents, and other activities.

For further information about Jeffrey H. Bracken contact 972-484-9887, or jeffb@brackenandassociates.com. For media inquiries or interview requests about the Baldrige Program or the Baldrige Award, reporters may contact Michael E. Newman, NIST Public Affairs Office, 301-975-3025, or michael.newman@nist.gov.