I am pleased to see that so many of Anne's colleagues were able to join us today to wish her a fond farewell. It's a real tribute to have so many friends here to see her off. And I know this turnout speaks to the high regard that we all have for her--as a scientist, as a federal official, and as a person.

In any event, we have a few people this evening who are more than pleased to make remarks commending Dr. Petersen and her contribution to Science while at NSF.

I will lead off the remarks followed by:

• Dr. Carolyn Huntoon--representing Dr. Jack Gibbons and Ernie Moniz of OSTP--both of whom are away.

• Mary L. Good--Under Secretary at the Department of Commerce and,

• Dr. Jaleh Daie--Executive Director of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS)

I am truly delighted to be here with all of you today joining the chorus to sing the praises of Dr. Anne Petersen and wish her a fond farewell and much success, as she leaves her position as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer at the National Science Foundation to occupy the role of Senior Vice President for Programs at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. That is not to suggest that I won't miss her, for I will. She has truly been a treasured colleague and a dear friend.

I want to express my personal gratitude to Anne for all she has meant to the continued success of NSF--not to mention my own attempts at success as Director. And what better way to begin than by thanking her for what she has done during her tenure at the Foundation.

Since the day of her swearing in back in August 1994, when the Clinton Administration and Congress gave clear direction on reinvigorating the nation's science and technology enterprise and reforming Federal government operations, Anne has played a significant role leading us there.

As the ninth Deputy Director of NSF, she was the first woman to hold the position. And I assure you, no one could have done a more outstanding job.

In her short stay, she has made immense contributions to the Foundation. To name a few, she's promoted many new science programs particularly in interdisciplinary areas, worked to increase the Foundation's visibility nationwide, and strongly advocated continued federal funding for science and technology to maintain U.S. world leadership in that area.

Let me take a moment to highlight some specific projects she has been involved with:

• Shortly after her arrival--and at my request--she initiated a top to bottom look at the merit review, peer evaluation process at NSF. The resultant Proposal Review Project has led to many efficiencies and will lead to more, I am confident. Like any good Washingtonian, she is leaving having just announced that the Project is winding down toward completion and that Phase II is gearing up.

• Another major effort she has led as Chief Operating Officer has been the development of performance based management at NSF. This responds in part to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and to the need at NSF to continue to find increased efficiencies and effectiveness in the management of our processes.

• I must also take a moment to mention her role in the Committee on Fundamental Science of the President's National Science and Technology Council. She has been instrumental leading and participating in several seminal reports--the Report on Assessing Fundamental Science, and the Report of the Research Integrity Panel. Anne is also a key participant in The Children's Initiative: Towards a Research Agenda Addressing the Physical, Cognitive, and Social Development of America's Children.

Anne is a champion for the social and behavioral sciences, as she is for all Science and Engineering and is firmly committed to child development and adolescence research.

Her creativity, drive, intellect, and insight have proven invaluable even during the most challenging of times, and this past year qualifies as one of them!

Indeed, her commitment to excellence, her dedication and her leadership, have been an inspiration to us all.

Oh, and one other thing--the NSF senior staff has pointed out she has taught us all that we can get so much more accomplished at our meetings--as long as there is a big box of Snickers on the table for us to share. At NSF we are a team--bonded together by chocolate!

Anne has done a truly outstanding job in a relatively short period of time, and she has taught us plenty along the way. We wish her much success with her new position. We will surely call upon her knowledge in the future.

Anne--I want to end this short tribute with my heartfelt thanks. You have been there when I needed you--more importantly--when NSF needed you. Your commitment to NSF--its people and its values and your many contributions--will not be forgotten.

Thank you.

On behalf of Anne and everyone at NSF, I would like to sincerely thank you all for coming to wish Anne farewell.