2011 Finalists—Career Achievement Medal
This award will recognize a federal employee for significant accomplishments throughout a lifetime of achievement in public service. This medal is accompanied by a $10,000 award.
Alfonso Batres
Position: Chief Officer, Readjustment Counseling Service
Agency: Veterans Health Administration
Location: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Devoted his career to building a national network of small, community-based centers where veterans traumatized by combat obtain counseling, job assistance, medical referrals and other services.
Neal B. Brown
Position: Chief, Community Support Programs Branch
Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Achievement: Helped transform mental health care in the U.S., moving people out of institutions and into community-based care, and giving mental health consumers and their families a voice in treatment options.
Sharon W. Bryson
Position: Deputy Director, Office of Communications
Agency: National Transportation Safety Board
Location: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Provides assistance and comfort to traumatized survivors and family members of those killed in aircraft accidents and other transportation disasters.
Lawrence Deyton
Position: Director, Center for Tobacco Products
Agency: Food and Drug Administration
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Achievement: Spent three decades improving public health and treating veterans, pioneering ways to fight AIDS, hepatitis C and emerging health threats, and now leading the effort to reduce tobacco-related disease and death.
Matthew J. Friedman
Position: Executive Director, National Center for PTSD
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Location: White River Junction, Vermont
Achievement: A pioneer in the field of traumatic stress disorders, who studied, treated and advocated for people psychologically affected by war or other tragedies.
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals are presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service.
