Why Sammies Matter

Yan Ping (Judy) Chen and a colleague from the Agricultural Research Service were honored for helping revolutionize bee disease diagnosis and treatment, introducing cutting-edge technologies to detect virus pathogens and developing novel medicines to enhance bee health and prevent colony collapse. Chen said being recognized through the awards program was “humbling and energizing.” 

“Public service isn’t something you pursue for recognition, so having our work highlighted in this way made me feel seen and deeply appreciated. It reinforced why I chose this career in the first place and gave me a renewed sense of purpose to keep pushing for meaningful change,” Chen said. 

“The recognition helped amplify the importance of bee health and opened doors for new partnerships across government, academia and the beekeeping community,” she said. “Since then, my work has focused on integrating science, field data and real‑world beekeeping practices to develop more effective disease‑management strategies.” 

Stephen O. Andersen played a key role at the Environmental Protection Agency in implementing the landmark Montreal Protocol, which has put the world on a path to restoring the ozone layer by phasing out 95% of the world’s ozone-depleting substances. Most recently working as a consultant with Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, Andersen said “the Sammies award validated my hard work, increased respect from my management and inspired and motivated me to carry on.” 

“I joined public service to change the world for the better through public-private partnerships, technical innovation and sensible regulation,” Andersen said. “I can honestly say that public service has been better than expected, entirely rewarding and brought out the best in me. I am proud of my life and grateful for the recognition of the Sammies award.”   

Dr. Hamid Jafari was honored for his work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention directing a global initiative that eradicated polio in India and curbed this crippling and potentially fatal disease in Nigeria and other African countries. Jafari, who later went to the World Health Organization and has since retired, said receiving a Service to America Medal^® represented an important “acknowledgement of the resilience and innovation of my team.” 

The opportunity to serve in government, Jafari said, was a “great platform for an impactful career that saved and changed lives for the better. It has given greater meaning to my life.” 

Reem Ghandour of the Department of Health and Human Services transformed and revitalized a national survey on children’s physical, emotional and developmental health, providing timely and insightful data to help state and federal policymakers make sound decisions. Ghandour said the “Sammies reminds me of how valued our work is and how important it is for the continuity of services to the American people.” 

Ghandour, who continues to work on ways to improve maternal and child health, said she joined the government because “I wanted to help people on the population level and at the system level.” Given recent events affecting the government, Ghandour said, she is focused “now more than ever on staying the course, staying focused on your north star and doing what’s right.” 

Alexander Maranghides of the National Institute of Standards and Technology has conducted decades of important research into how fires that occur in communities adjacent to wildlands spread, what can be done to prevent them and how to protect life and property. He said the Sammies “represented recognition of the impact our work has had to enhance life safety and reduce losses from catastrophic wildland urban interface fires.” 

“The Sammies have helped us show the next generation of young researchers that it can take time to solve complex problems. NIST is non-regulator and we seek to get our work used to positively enhance public safety,” Maranghides said. “The Sammies offered a broad acknowledgment that the work matters and is moving the needle.” 

Maranghides added that for him, public service means “high standards, hard work and working with like minded individuals who are looking out for the public’s safety and the resilience of our communities.” 

Josh Josa was an inclusive education specialist at U.S. Agency for International Development who advanced educational opportunities for children with disabilities in nearly 50 developing nations, impacting over 300,000 youth. Josa said the recognition through the Service to America Medal program “served as a powerful acknowledgment of my commitment to inclusive education.” He said being honored validated that these “invisible” barriers are “worth the fight.” 

Following the effective dissolution of USAID, Josa is now director for testing and training in a California program that provides assistive technology to people with disabilities. He said his work is still focused on alleviating communication related barriers that people may face, raising awareness on the importance of equity and inclusion, and “ignites my passions.” Josa said he remains dedicated to “advancing equity” and making sure there are resources to “make everyone live comfortably and contently.” 

Eliseo J Pérez-Stable and a colleague at the National Institutes of Health launched successful programs that worked to ensure underserved communities participated in COVID-19 testing and vaccine trials during the pandemic. Pérez-Stable, who was terminated from his position in 2025 as part of Trump administration cutbacks, said the Sammies award was “a recognition of the importance of addressing health disaprities.” 

Pérez-Stable said he was inspired to work in the government for “the opportunity to have national impact in this scientific field from the NIH position that is unique and not possible from any academic institution.” Serving the government, he said, represented “a commitment to improve the lives of all of the American people.”