Meet the Sammies Honorees • Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals

Hila Hanif, Umid Khikmatov and the Afghanistan Policy Team

2022 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Hila Hanif, Umid Khikmatov and the Afghanistan Policy Team

Organized the successful evacuation of more than 120,000 Afghans, Americans and NATO partners during the chaotic American military withdrawal from Afghanistan during two weeks in August 2021.

Roy Dotson and the CARES Act Team

2022 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Roy Dotson and the CARES Act Team

Conducted a nationwide criminal investigation that recovered $1.2 billion in stolen federal pandemic relief payments meant for small businesses and the unemployed, and halted the dispersal of $2.2 billion more in fraudulently requested funds.

Kyle Armstrong, Chris Janczewski, Ryan Landers and the Bitcoin Terror Takedown Team

2022 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Kyle Armstrong, Chris Janczewski, Ryan Landers and the Bitcoin Terror Takedown Team

Dismantled a series of sophisticated online fundraising campaigns run by three separate anti-American international terrorist organizations, seizing millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.

Jonathan Dworken

2022 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Jonathan Dworken

Coordinated the delivery of critical U.S. assistance to the people of Ethiopia amid a violent conflict.

Hilary Ingraham, Holly Herrera, Kiera Berdinner and the Operation Allies Welcome Resettlement Team

2022 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Hilary Ingraham, Holly Herrera, Kiera Berdinner and the Operation Allies Welcome Resettlement Team

Coordinated the largest resettlement of refugees in modern U.S. history, providing housing and services in record time to more than 72,000 people who fled from Afghanistan in 2021 as American military forces withdrew from that war-torn country.

Ana B. Hinojosa, Eric Choy and team

2021 Winner

People's Choice Award

Ana B. Hinojosa, Eric Choy and team

Directed enforcement actions against companies seeking to import goods produced by forced labor in China and other countries as part of a broader human rights effort to curb modern–day slavery.

Chong Le

2021 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Chong Le

Oversaw the development of a $1 billion Air Force satellite system that will enable prediction of major weather events and natural disasters, providing military leaders and civilian authorities with information needed to make crucial, life-saving decisions.

Kenneth Graham

2021 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Kenneth Graham

Coordinated the national response to the most active hurricane season on record during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a 100% evacuation rate in the hardest–hit area during Hurricane Laura, the strongest U.S. landfall in 2020 season.

Adam Jacoff and the Emergency Response Robotics team

2021 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Adam Jacoff and the Emergency Response Robotics team

Developed sophisticated testing standards to ensure ground, underwater and aerial robots have the capability to help emergency responders and the military handle disasters and other dangerous situations.

Zack Schwartz and the Census Bureau Trust & Safety team

2021 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Zack Schwartz and the Census Bureau Trust & Safety team

Led the first-of-its-kind government team that worked with technology companies to combat misinformation and disinformation that threatened the integrity of the 2020 census.

Donna F. Dodson

2020 Winner

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Donna F. Dodson

Recognized as one of the nation’s premier cybersecurity experts, having helped develop the first commercially available encryption standards as well as state-of-the-art guidelines for government and industry to prevent, detect and respond to cyberattacks.

Thomas Debass

2020 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Thomas Debass

Created public-private partnerships to advance America’s foreign policy interests while promoting economic growth and entrepreneurship in developing nations across the globe.

Lina Alathari, Ph.D.

2020 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Lina Alathari, Ph.D.

Developed threat assessment guidelines and worked with law enforcement, educators and local communities to intervene and prevent possible mass shootings in schools, workplaces and public spaces.

Photo of Chris Jancsewski, Zia Faruqui and Kimberly Reece

Christopher M. Janczewski, Zia M. Faruqui, Kimberly A. Reece and the W2V Team

2020 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Christopher M. Janczewski, Zia M. Faruqui, Kimberly A. Reece and the W2V Team

Led an international criminal investigation of the largest dark web child pornography site that accepted cryptocurrency to cloak more than one million video downloads, resulting in the arrest of the operator, more than 330 users and the rescue of 25 exploited children.

John M. Melle, María L. Pagán and team

2020 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

John M. Melle, María L. Pagán and team

Coordinated complex negotiations with Mexico and Canada, resulting in a $1.3 trillion trade agreement overwhelmingly approved by Congress that touches almost every aspect of the U.S. economy.

Photo of Thomas Prevoznik, Joseph Beemsterboer and Gary Cantrell

Thomas W. Prevoznik, Joseph Beemsterboer, Gary Cantrell and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force team

2020 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Thomas W. Prevoznik, Joseph Beemsterboer, Gary Cantrell and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force team

Investigated and arrested 73 health care professionals and other individuals in six states for the unlawful distribution of 40 million medically unnecessary pain pills, helping address the deadly nationwide opioid epidemic.

Ryan Shelby, Ph.D.

2019 Winner

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Ryan Shelby, Ph.D.

Provided vital training and resources to help people in Haiti rebuild thousands of homes and roofs ripped apart by a Category 4 hurricane, making the structures safer and stronger to withstand future disasters

Jamie Rhome

2019 Winner

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Jamie Rhome

Created a new forecasting model and warning system that more accurately predicts the deadly storm surge caused by hurricanes, saving lives by alerting residents sooner of the approaching danger