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Greene was chosen from nearly 500 nominees, representing two dozen federal agencies. The program pays tribute to America's dedicated federal workforce, with the Service to America Medals or "Sammies." Honorees are chosen based on their commitment and innovation, as well as the impact of their work on addressing the needs of the nation.
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"I am humbled and privileged," said Greene of the honor. "The award represents the work and achievements of dedicated and talented staff at USAID headquarters, in overseas missions, and in CDC Atlanta that are responsible for these accomplishments. These include senior managers, malariaologists, entomologists, monitoring and evaluation experts, communication specialists and a host of others."
Greene, who also runs USAID's Office of Health, Infectious Diseases, and Nutrition, which manages programs in maternal and child health, nutrition, avian influenza, health systems, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, was asked to develop the plan and launch the President's Malaria Initiative. His dedication and leadership were critical to the program's early success. He led the day-to-day implementation of the plan, and he and his staff were credited with mobilizing programs and helping to launch services (and supporting systems) in record time while tailoring different approaches to fit the needs of each individual country.
In its first year, PMI reached more than 6 million people with insecticide-treated mosquito nets, spraying and therapeutic drugs. By the end of its second year, the program had reached more than 25 million people with malaria treatment or prevention measures, including more than 17 million people protected through indoor residual spraying.
Greene's work on PMI is the pinnacle of a life spent in service to others around the globe. He began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Ivory Coast in 1978. After taking a job with USAID in 1984, he spent 15 years overseas in places ranging from Sudan to Cameroon to Bangladesh. He eventually settled in as the head of USAID's Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition in the Bureau for Global Health, and he has put the agency on the cutting edge of addressing key global health issues, including: avian influenza, neglected tropical diseases, and maternal and child health programs.
"The President's Malaria Initiative and these other efforts represent America at its best, exemplifying the generosity of the American people and our commitment to helping those most in need. In that same vein, Greene represents government at its best," said Administrator Henrietta H. Fore. "He reminds us that when we come together in service of a common cause, we discover the best in ourselves and we can transform the lives of others across the globe."
Other USAID Sammie award recipients include Mark Ward, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Asia and the Near East Bureau, who was presented the International Affairs Medal in 2006 for his leadership of the U.S. recovery and reconstruction efforts after the Asia tsunami in 2004 and the South Asia earthquake in 2005.
For more information about USAID and its global health pr
