AHA Federal Healthcare Executive Leaders

2027 AHA Federal Awards Nomination Period Opens

The 2027 nomination period is now open.

About the AHA Federal Healthcare Executive Awards

The American Hospital Association (AHA) recognizes federal healthcare executives who have had a significant and lasting impact on military and/or public healthcare delivery. The 2027 awards will be presented at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting, April 18-20, 2027, in Washington, D.C.

Nominations for the 2027 AHA Federal Healthcare Executive Awards are due by noon Monday, Nov. 2. We are unable to extend this deadline.

Nomination Process

Surgeons General of the Armed Forces (Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard), the Undersecretary for Health at the Veterans Administration, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of War, the Surgeon General of the Defense Health Agency, and the Director of the Indian Health Service are invited to submit two nominations each for each award.

Nominations must be submitted through AHA’s online platform. See above for a preview of the nomination form and instructions on how to complete the nomination form in AHA’s online platform.

Federal Healthcare Executive Award for Excellence

The Federal Healthcare Executive Award for Excellence recognizes a senior federal healthcare executive (uniformed or non-uniformed career commissioned officer O-6 level or higher/GS-15 level or higher equivalent) who has distinguished themselves through leadership in directing and orchestrating innovative achievements that contributed substantially to the mission of the federal healthcare system during the 18-month period from mid-2025 through 2026.

Federal Healthcare Executive Special Achievement Award

The Federal Healthcare Executive Special Achievement Award recognizes a federal career healthcare executive (uniformed or non-uniformed commissioned officer O-5 level or lower/GS-14 level or lower equivalent) who has distinguished themselves through a singular significant achievement or multiple sustained achievements that have enhanced the organization’s mission and/or contributed to the improvement of the federal healthcare system during the 18-month period from mid-2025 through 2026.

For questions about the awards, please email federalaward@aha.org.

Federal Healthcare Executive Leadership Award Recipients

Recipients of the annual AHA Federal Healthcare Executive Award for Excellence and Special Achievement Award follow:

2026 Awards	Award for Excellence Elizabeth Adriano, M.D. Commanding Officer Naval Medical Center San Diego, Calif. Special Achievement Award CDR Vince Deguzman, Pharm.D. Director of Clinical Support Services for the U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan 2026 Award Winners Press Release
2024 Awards	Award for Excellence Patricia Hastings, DO Executive Director Health Outcomes of Military Exposures Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC Special Achievement Award Trina Morrisette Chief, Information Management Defense Health Agency, Hearing Center of Excellence, Lackland, TX 2024 Award Winners Press Release
2023 Awards	Award for Excellence Colonel Craig Keyes Chief of Staff and Deputy Director Defense Health Network National Capital Region, Bethesda, Md. Special Achievement Award Major Kimberly Forsythe Mental Health Officer in Charge 66th MDS Hanscom Clinic Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts 2023 Award Winners Press Release
2022 Awards	Award for Excellence Captain Kimberly D. Davis, M.D. CEO (Director) Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA United States Navy Special Achievement Award Captain Cody Morcom, PharmD Commander’s Support Staff Flight Commander and Medical Group Executive Officer Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Del. United States Air Force, 436th Medical Group 2022 Award Winners Press Release
2021 Awards	Award for Excellence Col. Kathy A. Naylor Chief Air Force Medical Service Transition Cell United States Air Force, Falls Church, Va. Special Achievement Award Barbara I. Moidel Program Manager Healthcare Resolutions Program Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va. 2021 Awards Winners – Press Release
2020 Awards	Award for Excellence Brig. Gen. John J. Bartrum Headquarters Air Force/Mobilization Assistant to Deputy Surgeon General Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va. Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. Jason P. Richter Medical Support Squadron Commander and Medical Group Administrator Aviano Air Base Ambulatory Surgical Center United States Air Force, Aviano, Italy 2020 Awards Winners – Press Release
2019 Awards	Award for Excellence Col. Jennifer A. Brooks, M.D. United States Air Force 633rd Medical Operations Squadron Langley USAF Hospital, Hampton, Va. Special Achievement Award Jennifer A. Koget Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C. 2019 Awards Winners – Press Release
2018 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. Valerie J. Riege Chief Innovation and Integration Officer Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) United States Navy, Falls Church, Va. Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. DeWayne C. Lazenby, M.D. Deputy Commander & Chief of the Medical Staff United States Air Force 92nd Medical Group, Spokane, Wash. 2018 Awards Winners – Press Release
2017 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. James Hancock, M.D. Commanding Officer Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, N.C. Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. Johnathan Compton, M.D. Deputy Director of Medical Services Air Force Medical Operations Agency, San Antonio, Texas 2017 Award Winners - Press Release
2016 Awards	Award for Excellence Col. John J. Cotton, M.D., MPH Deputy Commander United States Air Force 18th Medical Group Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. Brian H. Neese, M.D., MPH Commander United States Air Force 628th Medical Operations Squadron Joint Base Charleston, S.C. 2016 Award Winners - Press Release
2015 Awards	Award for Excellence Rear Adm. Terry J. Moulton Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Falls Church, Va. Special Achievement Award Maj. Rett J. Reber United States Air Force 15 Medical Group Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickham, Hawaii 2015 Award Winners - Press Release
2014 Awards	Award for Excellence Brig. Gen. Charles E. Potter Director, Manpower, Personnel, and Resources Office of the Surgeon General United States Air Force, Falls Church, Va. Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. James D. Carrell, O.D. Chief Department of Soldier Care Moncrief Army Community Hospital United States Army, Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. 2014 Award Winners - Press Release
2013 Awards	Award for Excellence SES Michael A. Sabo, FACHE Network Director Department of Veteran Affairs New York/New Jersey Integrated Service Network (VISN 3) Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. Derek J. Larbie United States Air Force/377th Medical Group Kirkland Air Force Base, N.M. 2013 Award Winners - Press Release
2012 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. Maureen O'Hara Padden, M.D. Commanding officer U.S. Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Fla. Special Achievement Award Cmdr. Matthew Case MSC United States Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 2012 Award Winners - Press Release
2011 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. Stephen M. Pachuta, DDS MS, Dental Corps, Commanding Officer U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. Timothy J. Kosmatka, M.D. United States Air Force Medical Operations Agency Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 2011 Award Winners - Press Release
2010 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. Cynthia J. Gantt NC, USN, Senior Nurse Executive and Director of Nursing Services U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. Special Achievement Award Lt. Col. L. "Michaelle" Guerrero Commander 82nd Medical Support Squadron/Administrator 82nd Medical Group Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. 2010 Award Winners - Press Release
2009 Awards	Award for Excellence Capt. Russell Shilling Executive Director for Science and Technology Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) while assigned to National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Special Achievement Award Lt. Cmdr. Megan Wohr Indian Health Service Division of Epidemiology National Tobacco Control Specialist Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Ari. 2009 Award Winners - Press Release
2008 Awards	Award for Excellence Col. William Beninati Commander 59th Medical Operations Group Wilford Hall Medical Center Lackland Air Force Base, Texas Special Achievement Award Maj. Tammie Jones Administrator Department of Medicine Brooke Army Medical Center Fort Sam Houston, Texas 2008 Award Winners - Press Release
2007 Awards	Award for Excellence Lt. Cmdr. Dawn Garcia Head Nurse Combined Intensive Care Unit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany Special Achievement Award Col. Jimmie O. Keenan Chief of Staff Army Medical Action Plan Army Medical Department Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Va. 2007 Award Winners - Press Release
2006 Awards	Award for Excellence Bruce Alan Gordon MSHA, Medical Center Director Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, Texas Special Achievement Award Shelly Rae Harris Chief Executive Officer Rosebud Comprehensive Healthcare Facility, Rosebud, S.D.

Award for Excellence winner Elizabeth Adriano, M.D., the commanding officer of the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California.

2026 Federal Healthcare Executive Award for Excellence winner Elizabeth Adriano, M.D., commanding officer at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California.

2027 AHA Federal Awards Nomination Form Preview PDF

2027 AHA Federal Awards Nomination Form Instructions PDF

Recognition and Awards

Leadership