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EHS Staff Recognitions

    This page provides information about EHS staff recognitions and awards.

    The 2008 Walter F. Snyder Award for Achievement in Advancing Environmental Health was presented to CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS, on June 22, 2008, at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) annual educational conference in Tucson. This award is presented annually by NEHA and NSF International to a recipient who has achieved peer recognition for outstanding accomplishment in the fields of health and the environment, for notable contributions to public health and the quality of life, for demonstrated capacity to work with all interests in solving environmental problems, for knowledge and proficiency in utilizing voluntary standards to obtain environmental objectives, and for leadership in securing action on behalf of health or environmental goals.

    The 2007 USPHS Responder of the Year was presented to CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS, for his exemplary service as the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Officer in Charge (OIC) during the United States Navy Ship (USNS) Comfort’s 4-month Training and Humanitarian Assistance Deployment (June 15–October 15, 2007). This award was presented on June 11, 2008, at the USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium in Tucson. This award is presented for one-time impact on public health preparedness and response or career contributions to emergency preparedness and/or disaster response as well as the nominee’s role in deployments and the impact thereof.

    CAPT Hugh Mainzer, MS, DVM, Dipl ACVPM, recently received a U.S. Army Corps Chief's medallion. This award was presented by BGEN Michael Cates (Director of the Army's Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine and U.S. Army Chief Veterinary Officer) at the 54th international military veterinary medical symposium in Garmisch, Germany, in May 2008.

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS, received a Hazardous Duty Award (PHS) on January 29, 2008, for his deployment on the USNS Comfort serving in Columbia and Haiti and using light aircraft transportation (June 2007–October 2007).

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS, received a Foreign Duty Award (PHS) on January 28, 2008, for his deployment for at least 30 days on the USNS Comfort, which sailed in international waters with stops in international ports (June 2007–October 2007).

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS, received a Special Assignment Award (PHS) on January 10, 2008, for his detail to federal agencies for a minimum of 30 consecutive days to a special program initiative of a federal or state agency.

    Chief Professional Officers for the PHS Commissioned Corps

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS: Environmental Health Officer Category

    CAPT Hugh Mainzer, MS, DVM, Dipl ACVPM: Veterinary Officer Category

    Staff Recognition in Previous Years

    CAPT Charles Otto, III: one of "the most powerful people in the aquatics industry" 2008 (Aquatics International annual Power 25 issue [PDF 56 KB]).

    Profiles in Leadership, Part II: The 15 Faces of Environmental Health Leadership [PDF 1.6 MB] [external link]: EHS staff were among those named as environmental health leaders from across the country in a 2007 Journal of Environmental Health cover article.

    Environmental Health Services Branch: 2007 A. Harry Bliss Journal Editors’ Award in recognition of the services and contributions made to the Journal of Environmental Health

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS: 15 Oct 2007 Meritorious Unit Commendation (Navy-USMC)

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS: 15 Oct 2007 Sea Service Deployment Ribbon issued by the US Navy

    CAPT Craig A. Shepherd, RS, MPH, DAAS: 15 Oct 2007 Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal (PHS)

    CDR Richard J. Gelting, PhD: USPHS Engineering Literary Award, USPHS Outstanding Unit Citation, and NCID Honor Award

    Environmental Health Workforce Development Working Group, National Center for Environmental Health: 2004 CDC/ATSDR James Virgil Peavy Workforce Development Award for outstanding accomplishments in enhancing knowledge, skills, abilities, and diversity in the field of environmental health

    Norovirus Sampling Analysis Team: 2004 CDC/ATSDR Honor Award for Excellence in Method Development

    The John G. Todd Award has been presented to several EHS officers at past National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) annual educational conferences:

    • CAPT Craig A Shepherd: 2005
    • CAPT John P. Sarisky: 2004
    • CAPT Patrick Bohan: 2002
    • CAPT Charles S. Otto, III: 2001