• Partnership for Public Service
  • Best Places to Work
  • Center for Presidential Transition
  • Go Government
  • Service to America Medals
Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals logo
  • About
    • Program Overview and History
    • Selection Process and Committee
    • Nomination Details
    • 2020 Digital Toolkit
    • Sponsors
    • Contact Us
  • Honorees
  • Donate
Beth Ripley, M.D., Ph.D.

Beth Ripley, M.D., Ph.D.

2020 Winner

Science and Environment

Beth Ripley, M.D., Ph.D.

Created an interconnected, hospital-based 3D printing network that is assisting health care providers with medical procedures, reducing unnecessary surgeries and helping improve quality of life for veterans.

Photo of Donna Shaver

Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D.

2020 Finalist

Science and Environment

Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D.

Championed the conservation and recovery efforts for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, helping save the species from extinction by protecting and preserving the nests at Padre Island National Seashore. 

Photo of Nancy Sullivan

Nancy J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

2020 Finalist

Science and Environment

Nancy J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Developed a highly effective medication for the deadly Ebola virus now awaiting federal approval, providing the ability to treat patients with this highly contagious disease that has ravaged African countries.

Photo of John Tisdale and Griffin Rodgers

John F. Tisdale, M.D., Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D. and the Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics team

2020 Finalist

Science and Environment

John F. Tisdale, M.D., Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D. and the Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics team

Pioneered innovative research that could lead to a cure for sickle cell disease, an illness that affects more than 20 million people worldwide.

Photo of Peter Briss

Peter A. Briss, M.D. and the 2019 Lung Injury Response team

2020 Finalist

Science and Environment

Peter A. Briss, M.D. and the 2019 Lung Injury Response team

Identified the chemical compound in vaping products that caused life-threatening lung injuries among young adults, communicating the danger to public health and saving lives. 

Daniel B. Jernigan, M.D.

Daniel B. Jernigan, M.D.

2019 Winner

Science and Environment

Daniel B. Jernigan, M.D.

Led response efforts for dozens of disease crises, including Ebola, SARS and West Nile virus, while greatly improving our country’s ability to identify, prepare for and respond to inevitable flu pandemics

W. Marston Linehan, M.D.

W. Marston Linehan, M.D.

2019 Finalist

Science and Environment

W. Marston Linehan, M.D.

Discovered six different genetic origins of kidney cancer and provided the foundation for the development of targeted therapies that have saved thousands of lives

McMahan “Mac” Louis Gray

McMahan “Mac” Louis Gray

2019 Finalist

Science and Environment

McMahan “Mac” Louis Gray

Created a game-changing technology that removes carbon dioxide from power plant emissions and absorbs heavy metals, such as lead, from municipal water supplies

Othmane Benafan, Ph.D.

Othmane Benafan, Ph.D.

2019 Finalist

Science and Environment

Othmane Benafan, Ph.D.

Advanced the science and use of a special alloy that returns to its original shape after being heated, leading to groundbreaking technologies that enable safer, more efficient aviation and space exploration

Christina A. Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team

Christina A. Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team

2019 Finalist

Science and Environment

Christina A. Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team

Carefully monitored a large and sustained eruption of the Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii and provided vital updates to protect residents, tourists and property from ash, lava and toxic fumes

Margaret Honein, Ph.D.

Margaret Honein, Ph.D.

2018 Winner

Science and Environment

Margaret Honein, Ph.D.

Collected and analyzed critical data to help protect women and babies from the mosquito-borne Zika virus that was spreading rapidly in the U.S. and its territories

Tim Schmit

Tim Schmit

2018 Finalist

Science and Environment

Tim Schmit

Developed cutting-edge satellite technology for detecting and monitoring severe weather, helping protect people and property from approaching disasters

Soheila J. Maleki, Ph.D.

Soheila J. Maleki, Ph.D.

2018 Finalist

Science and Environment

Soheila J. Maleki, Ph.D.

Led life-changing research on the causes, detection, prevention and potential remedies for peanut and tree nut allergies, which affect up to two million American children

Barbara G. Kutchko, Ph.D.

Barbara G. Kutchko, Ph.D.

2018 Finalist

Science and Environment

Barbara G. Kutchko, Ph.D.

Helped rewrite standards for the use of foamed cement in oil wells, to prevent blowouts and damaging oil spills and to better protect workers and the environment

Rory A. Cooper

Rory A. Cooper

2017 Winner

Science and Environment

Rory A. Cooper

Designed innovative wheelchairs and other assistive technology equipment that has greatly improved the mobility and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans and other Americans

Justin C. Sanchez

Justin C. Sanchez

2017 Finalist

Science and Environment

Justin C. Sanchez

Oversaw research to develop life-like prosthetic arms with near-natural dexterity that enables amputees to pick up small or fragile objects, and is managing efforts to restore the ability for brain-injured soldiers to form new memories

David J.  Lipman and the GenBank Team

David J. Lipman and the GenBank Team

2017 Finalist

Science and Environment

David J. Lipman and the GenBank Team

Built and heads the world’s largest and most influential repository of genetic sequence data now being used by biomedical researchers around the world, including those studying infectious, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases

David A. Hindin

David A. Hindin

2016 Finalist

Science and Environment

David A. Hindin

Spearheaded the EPA’s use of advanced pollution monitoring technology to increase compliance with federal environmental laws, provide more public transparency and reduce harmful pollutants in our air and waterways.

Jaques Reifman and the APPRAISE Team

Jaques Reifman and the APPRAISE Team

2016 Winner

Science and Environment

Jaques Reifman and the APPRAISE Team

Developed an artificial intelligence system for medics to quickly detect if severely injured patients in transit are hemorrhaging, improving survival rates by preparing trauma centers to act immediately upon the patient’s arrival.

Dennis C. Reuter and the LEISA Team

Dennis C. Reuter and the LEISA Team

2016 Finalist

Science and Environment

Dennis C. Reuter and the LEISA Team

Developed a sophisticated instrument for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft that revealed startling new information about Pluto’s terrain and composition, altering our perceptions of the solar system.

Jacob E. Moss

Jacob E. Moss

2015 Winner

Science and Environment

Jacob E. Moss

Built an alliance of federal and international agencies, countries and corporations to bring more efficient cook stoves and cleaner burning fuels to homes in developing nations, protecting the environment and the health of millions of people worldwide.

Richard Alan Feely

Richard Alan Feely

2015 Finalist

Science and Environment

Richard Alan Feely

Conducted eye-opening research on ocean acidification caused by global carbon dioxide emissions, which poses a serious risk to the health of sea life and the marine environment, and to people who rely on the oceans for food.

Christopher D. Doley

Christopher D. Doley

2016 Finalist

Science and Environment

Christopher D. Doley

Crafted a comprehensive, multibillion dollar plan to repair the immense damage to waterways, land, fish and wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Griffin P. Rodgers

Griffin P. Rodgers

2015 Finalist

Science and Environment

Griffin P. Rodgers

Developed the first effective drug treatment for sickle cell disease to lessen pain and suffering, and oversaw a stem cell transplant clinical trial that reversed the debilitating illness in a majority of patients.

John Cymbalsky

John Cymbalsky

2014 Finalist

Science and Environment

John Cymbalsky

Brought together industry and environmental groups to adopt new efficiency standards for appliances and commercial equipment that will save consumers money and reduce energy consumption and air pollution.

Jeffrey Rogers

Jeffrey Rogers

2014 Finalist

Science and Environment

Jeffrey Rogers

Created a wearable sensor that provides real-time information on the risk of traumatic brain injuries to soldiers exposed to bomb blasts, resulting in quicker medical treatment and uncovering previously undiagnosed injuries.

William A. Bauman and Ann M. Spungen

William A. Bauman and Ann M. Spungen

2014 Winner

Science and Environment

William A. Bauman and Ann M. Spungen

Greatly improved the health care and the quality of life of paralyzed veterans by developing new ways to treat long-overlooked medical problems.

Richard Rast

Richard Rast

2014 Finalist

Science and Environment

Richard Rast

Developed a new, low-cost method of locating and tracking space debris that could severely damage or destroy spacecraft and vital communications, navigation and weather satellites.

William Charmley and James Tamm

William Charmley and James Tamm

2014 Finalist

Science and Environment

William Charmley and James Tamm

Led an interagency team that developed standards for cars and light trucks that will double fuel economy by 2025 and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6 billion metric tons.

Josh Silverman

Josh Silverman

2013 Finalist

Science and Environment

Josh Silverman

Discovered and led efforts to halt the release of more than one million tons of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas from Energy Department facilities.

David Lavery and the Mars Science Laboratory Team

David Lavery and the Mars Science Laboratory Team

2013 Winner

Science and Environment

David Lavery and the Mars Science Laboratory Team

Led the Curiosity rover mission to Mars that is exploring the Red Planet’s geology and climate, and assessing whether conditions are favorable for microbial life and future human exploration.

Paul D. Jablonski

Paul D. Jablonski

2013 Finalist

Science and Environment

Paul D. Jablonski

Revolutionized coronary stent technology by developing a new platinum-chromium alloy that makes the device thinner, more flexible and visible by x-ray.

Nora D. Volkow

Nora D. Volkow

2013 Finalist

Science and Environment

Nora D. Volkow

Demonstrated that drug addiction is a disease that changes brain function and created new strategies for treating patients with substance abuse issues.

Myron “Ron” Diftler and the Robonaut2 Team

Myron “Ron” Diftler and the Robonaut2 Team

2012 Finalist

Science and Environment

Myron “Ron” Diftler and the Robonaut2 Team

Developed the first humanoid robot ever sent into space, a revolutionary machine with a unique human-like hand that can take over simple, repetitive or dangerous tasks now performed by astronauts.

Neal S. Young

Neal S. Young

2012 Winner

Science and Environment

Neal S. Young

Saves lives through cutting-edge research and treatments for patients with bone marrow failure diseases, including the rare and once deadly blood disorder known as aplastic anemia.

Kyle Myers

Kyle Myers

2012 Finalist

Science and Environment

Kyle Myers

Sets the scientific standards to ensure that the pictures produced by medical imaging devices are accurate and can be reliably used to assist in the diagnosis of serious diseases.

Barbara Linder

Barbara Linder

2012 Finalist

Science and Environment

Barbara Linder

Developed and tested innovative ways to prevent and treat the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes in children, particularly among minority and disadvantaged children who are at greatest risk for this disease.

Fenella France

Fenella France

2011 Finalist

Science and Environment

Fenella France

Developed innovative imaging techniques to unearth new historical information from some of the nation’s most treasured documents, including the Declaration of Independence.

Diane Powell and the LAUNCH Team

Diane Powell and the LAUNCH Team

2011 Finalist

Science and Environment

Diane Powell and the LAUNCH Team

Created a unique government and private-sector partnership to identify, support and help take to market innovative technologies that offer solutions to global sustainability problems.

William A. Gahl

William A. Gahl

2011 Winner

Science and Environment

William A. Gahl

Brings together medical specialists to diagnose mysterious diseases for desperate and long suffering patients.

Carl Burleson

Carl Burleson

2010 Finalist

Science and Environment

Carl Burleson

Leading government and industry to deliver a quieter, cleaner and more energy-efficient aviation system.

Rafat R. Ansari

Rafat R. Ansari

2010 Finalist

Science and Environment

Rafat R. Ansari

Led breakthroughs that could revolutionize the care and prevention of cataracts, the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.

Joshua Bienfang

Joshua Bienfang

2010 Finalist

Science and Environment

Joshua Bienfang

Used quantum physics and telecommunications technologies to develop a new way to send and receive 100 percent secure encrypted messages at record speeds.

Jeffrey M. Baker

Jeffrey M. Baker

2010 Winner

Science and Environment

Jeffrey M. Baker

Led the design and construction of the world’s largest net-zero energy office building, demonstrating that buildings can be created to decrease energy consumption at no additional cost.

Robin Robinson

Robin Robinson

2009 Finalist

Science and Environment

Robin Robinson

Led the development of the first avian influenza H5N1 vaccine—cited as the #3 medical breakthrough of 2007 by TIME magazine.

T. Allan Comp

T. Allan Comp

2009 Winner

Science and Environment

T. Allan Comp

Built a network of volunteers to revitalize communities in Appalachian coal country and the Western Hardrock mining region to repair decades of environmental degradation.

Jeffrey A. Schloss

Jeffrey A. Schloss

2009 Finalist

Science and Environment

Jeffrey A. Schloss

Opened the door to personalized medicine by developing new and affordable ways to sequence DNA as part of the Human Genome Project.

Compton J. Tucker

Compton J. Tucker

2009 Finalist

Science and Environment

Compton J. Tucker

Pioneered satellite-based monitoring of vegetation to track human-induced climate change, provide early warning of famine, and prevent deforestation and the spread of tropical disease.

Patricia Guerry

Patricia Guerry

2009 Winner

Science and Environment

Patricia Guerry

Created the Campylobacter vaccine to prevent the world’s top cause of food-borne intestinal illness.

Leslie Holland-Bartels and the International Polar Bear Science Team

Leslie Holland-Bartels and the International Polar Bear Science Team

2009 Finalist

Science and Environment

Leslie Holland-Bartels and the International Polar Bear Science Team

Determined a link between climate change and probable elimination of the polar bear in the next 45 to 75 years, and established a scientific process that will investigate other physical and societal changes.

Steven G. Chalk

Steven G. Chalk

2008 Winner

Science and Environment

Steven G. Chalk

Leading many of our federal government’s most significant efforts to expand the development and use of renewable energy.

Greg Neudecker

Greg Neudecker

2008 Finalist

Science and Environment

Greg Neudecker

Built a coalition of government officials, local landowners and conservation groups to develop and execute a plan to restore Montana’s Blackfoot River watershed, the setting of the 1992 film A River Runs Through It.

Alexander E. MacDonald

Alexander E. MacDonald

2008 Finalist

Science and Environment

Alexander E. MacDonald

Invented Science on a Sphere®, a teaching tool that displays environmental data on a globe-like screen and makes Earth-system science more exciting and accessible.

Raymond Carruthers and Jack DeLoach

Raymond Carruthers and Jack DeLoach

2007 Finalist

Science and Environment

Raymond Carruthers and Jack DeLoach

Developed environmentally friendly biological controls for saltcedar, an invasive tree that inflicted billions of dollars of damage to agricultural and natural areas.

Robert J. Lamb

Robert J. Lamb

2006 Finalist

Science and Environment

Robert J. Lamb

Pioneered new conservation strategies built on cooperation between government, citizens, environmental groups and the private sector.

Norden E. Huang

Norden E. Huang

2006 Winner

Science and Environment

Norden E. Huang

Pioneering research to test and improve NASA spacecraft, earthquake-proof buildings, bridges, submarines, medicines and more.

Stuart Richer and the LAST Team

Stuart Richer and the LAST Team

2006 Finalist

Science and Environment

Stuart Richer and the LAST Team

Has clinically proven the benefits of nutritional supplements to prevent and even cure age-related vision loss.

Frazer Lockhart and the Rocky Flats Cleanup Team

Frazer Lockhart and the Rocky Flats Cleanup Team

2007 Winner

Science and Environment

Frazer Lockhart and the Rocky Flats Cleanup Team

Completed the first successful cleanup of a former nuclear weapons facility 60 years ahead of schedule and $30 billion under budget.

Gloria Kulesa

Gloria Kulesa

2005 Finalist

Science and Environment

Gloria Kulesa

Oversaw development of new tools that have made air travel safer, reduced airport delays and saved tens of millions of dollars.

Robert Davis

Robert Davis

2005 Finalist

Science and Environment

Robert Davis

Pioneered several weather predicting initiatives to help forecast flash floods, the deadliest form of severe weather hazards.

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that believes good government starts with good people. We help government serve the needs of all Americans by strengthening the civil service and the systems that support it.

  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Get In Touch

1100 New York Ave NW
Suite 200 East
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 775-9111


© 2021 Partnership for Public Service
Privacy Policy Back to Top