Davie-Davis Public Service Award

The National Tax Association welcomes nominations from its members for the prestigious Davie-Davis Public Service Award.

The Davie-Davis Public Service Award was established in 2005 to honor the memory and lasting legacies of two long-time NTA Members: Bruce F. Davie and Albert J. Davis.

About the Honorees
Bruce F. Davie: Although he began his career in academia, Bruce spent nearly forty years in public service. He served as Chief Economist for the House Ways and Means Committee during the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986 and later served in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He was instrumental in developing foundational tax policies and analyses—particularly concerning tax-exempt binds, tax expenditures, and tax shelters— and was widely celebrated for his witty, insightful presentations at NTA conferences.

Albert J. Davis: After a brief stint at the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Al spent the remainder of his career on Capitol Hill. He served as a tax economist for the House Budget Committee before becoming Chief Economist for the Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee in the mid-1900s. An expert on individual and corporate taxation, Al was one of the first analysts to flag the long-term challenges of the alternative minimum tax. He was highly regarded for his sharp intelligence, dedication to exposing budget scams, and commitment to grounding political debates in rigorous economic analysis.

Award Criteria & Eligibility

The Davie-Davis Award honors NTA members who follow in the footsteps of Bruce and Al by serving the public through insightful analysis and objective advice on taxation and government finance. Recipients are recognized for their invaluable contributions to elected officials, policymakers, and the public. Notably, the award is not restricted to individuals who spent their entire careers in government. The award is presented annually at the NTA Spring Symposium.

The Judging Process

  • Nomination: NTA members submit nominations outlining the nominee’s qualifications.
  • Evaluation: A committee of NTA members, appointed by the Board of Directors, reviews and scores all applications Public 
  • Approval: The committee submits a formal nomination to the Board of Directors for final approval.

Important Dates to Remember

  • Nominations Close:  Monday, September 21, 2026
  • Award Presentation: The recipient will be celebrated at the 2027 Spring Symposium

Submission Notes & Tips

  • Be Thorough: Please complete the application fully. The supporting statement is vital, as it helps the committee understand the depth and impact of the nominee’s public service.
  • Code of Conduct: The NTA expects that all nominees will act ethically, morally, and safely in accordance with the NTA Code of Conduct

If you have questions at any point during the submission process, please reach out to our staff at nta@ntanet.org. Thank you for helping us honor outstanding public service!

Submit Your 2027 Nomination Here

Previous Davie-Davis Public Service Award Recipients

2026 James B. Mackie III, Quantitative Economics and Statistics Group (QUEST) at EY
2025 Barry Johnson, Urban-Brooking Tax Policy Center
2024 James Cilke, Joint Committee on Taxation
2023 Gerald Auten, US Department of Treasury
2022 Janet McCubbin, Tax Policy Economist and Research Director
2021 Martin A. Sullivan, Tax Notes
2020 Janet Holtzblatt, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
2019 Mark Mazur, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
2018 Donald Kiefer, U.S. Department of the Treasury
2017 Geraldine Gerardi, U.S. Department of the Treasury
2016 Leonard E. Burman, The Urban Institute
2015 Allen H. Lerman, U.S. Department of the Treasury
2014 Thomas Barthold, Joint Committee on Taxation
2013 Rosemary Marcuss, Internal Revenue Service
2012 Dennis Zimmerman, American Tax Policy Institute (formerly Congressional Research Service)
2011 Emil Sunley, International Monetary Fund
2010 Harry Grubert, U.S. Department of the Treasury
2009 James Nunns, New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department
2008 Eric Toder, The Urban Institute (formerly the Internal Revenue Service)
2007 Jane Gravelle, Congressional Research Service
2006 Seymour Fiekowsky, U.S. Department of the Treasury
2005 C. Eugene Steuerle, The Urban Institute