Honoree Archive • Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals

Victoria Brahm

Victoria Brahm

2019 Winner

Federal Employee of the Year

Victoria Brahm

Restored the quality and safety of a broken health care center for veterans that had become notorious for unsafe medical practices, excessive opioid use and a toxic work environment

Ann McKee, M.D.

Ann McKee, M.D.

2019 Winner

Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement

Ann McKee, M.D.

Revolutionized scientific research and our understanding of the long-term effects of concussions, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, in veterans and athletes

Ryan Shelby, Ph.D.

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

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

Robert Cabana and the Kennedy Space Center Senior Management Team

Robert Cabana and the Kennedy Space Center Senior Management Team

2019 Winner

Management Excellence

Robert Cabana and the Kennedy Space Center Senior Management Team

Transformed the historic Kennedy Space Center into a globally distinguished, multiuser launch site for government and commercial space exploration, helping preserve our country’s leadership in this important field

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

Michael R. Bloomberg

Michael R. Bloomberg

2019 Winner

Spirit of Service Award

Michael R. Bloomberg

Public Servant, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

John P. Wagner

John P. Wagner

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

John P. Wagner

Implemented facial recognition systems that simplify and fortify airport security, helping travelers reach their destinations faster while stopping suspected terrorists and others attempting to enter and leave the U.S. using false documents

Kurt Yankaskas

Kurt Yankaskas

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Kurt Yankaskas

Identified and implemented solutions to combat noise-induced hearing loss, which affects hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines, and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year in treatments for veterans

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

Osama El-Lissy

Osama El-Lissy

2019 Finalist

Management Excellence

Osama El-Lissy

Created a highly effective plan that led the United States to become the first and only country to eradicate the pink bollworm, saving cotton growers tens of millions of dollars annually

Shannon Sartin and Team

Shannon Sartin and Team

2019 Finalist

Management Excellence

Shannon Sartin and Team

Led the development of digital tools to make it easier for Medicare patients to access their electronic health records and for doctors to receive payment for the quality, not the quantity, of the care they provide

William K. Boyes, Ph.D

William K. Boyes, Ph.D

2019 Finalist

Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement

William K. Boyes, Ph.D

Conducted important research on the harm that commonly used chemicals have on eyesight and the central nervous system, leading to new standards to protect the public from overexposure to these toxic substances

Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D.

Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D.

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D.

Improved the health and safety of our nation’s mine workers by using behavioral science to influence the adoption of new technologies and practices that reduce their exposure to known hazards

Venkatachalam “Ram” Ramaswamy, Ph.D.

Venkatachalam “Ram” Ramaswamy, Ph.D.

2019 Finalist

Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement

Venkatachalam “Ram” Ramaswamy, Ph.D.

Developed a state-of-the-art modeling system to enhance understanding and prediction of global climate and provide earlier and more accurate forecasts of severe weather events, helping save lives and property

Paul Shute, Christopher Aragao and David Enright

Paul Shute, Christopher Aragao and David Enright

2019 Finalist

Management Excellence

Paul Shute, Christopher Aragao and David Enright

Dramatically cut the time and manpower needed to make decisions on service-related mental health claims for veterans, helping tens of thousands of individuals each year receive their benefits faster

Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team

Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team

Designed and implemented enhanced surveillance technology that warns when commercial aircraft are lined up to land on a taxiway instead of the intended runway, averting the potential for catastrophic accidents

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

Michael G. Kozak

Michael G. Kozak

2019 Finalist

Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement

Michael G. Kozak

For nearly five decades, helped shape foreign policy to protect U.S. interests abroad and advance democracy and human rights around the world

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

Arthur A. Allen

Arthur A. Allen

2019 Finalist

Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement

Arthur A. Allen

Pioneered and perfected a modeling program that predicts where people lost at sea will be found, cutting search and rescue times and saving thousands of lives during a 35-year career

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

James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team

James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team

Uncovered and prosecuted the largest bribery and corruption scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy, resulting in dozens of federal criminal convictions and sanctions against numerous Navy officers

Kara L. De Castro

Kara L. De Castro

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Kara L. De Castro

Led pivotal international programs to convert weapons-grade nuclear materials for civilian use and enhanced security cultures to guard against their mishandling and misuse

Leticia Pibida, Ph.D.

Leticia Pibida, Ph.D.

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Leticia Pibida, Ph.D.

Strengthened our nation’s defenses against nuclear and radioactive threats by developing performance standards and tests for detection systems that screen nearly 7 million cargo containers entering U.S. seaports every year

Kristen P. Finne

Kristen P. Finne

2019 Finalist

Safety, Security and International Affairs

Kristen P. Finne

Developed a system for first responders to quickly locate and assist 4.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment and are at risk during prolonged power outages