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Three EPA Employees Selected as Finalists for 2015 Service to America Medals

WASHINGTON- Today the Partnership for Public Service honored three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees that have been selected as finalists for the 2015 Service to America Medals, which highlight America's dedicated federal workers who have made significant contributions to our country.

EPA is proud to announce that Robert Kavlock, Jacob Moss, and Stephanie Hogan were selected as Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) finalists for their commitment and innovation, as well as the impact of their work on addressing the needs of the nation. Robert Kavlock, deputy assistant administrator for science for the Office of Research and Development is a finalist in the Career Achievement Category; Jacob Moss, environmental protection specialist in EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, is a finalist for the National Security and International Affairs Category; and, Stephanie Hogan, attorney advisor in EPA's Air and Radiation Law Office in EPA's Office of General Counsel, is a finalist for the Call to Service Category.

"I am so proud of the hard work and dedication of these three outstanding EPA employees," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Their passion for public service and significant contributions to our understanding of chemical safety and air pollution is helping EPA protect human health and the environment every day."

Robert Kavlock is nominated for his outstanding public service career dedicated to protecting human health and the environment. Dr. Kavlock has transformed how scientists assess the safety of thousands of chemicals, saving years of toxicity testing, dramatically reducing the number of animal studies needed, and saving millions of taxpayer dollars. Bob has brought 21st Century science and innovative recruitment strategies to implement his vision of engaging the broad community of stakeholders to generate and share an unprecedented volume of data and knowledge transparently through open platforms that are accessible to anyone. In addition to his leadership instituting a computational toxicology research program at EPA, Bob's career at the Agency has included implementing consumer safety protections, evaluating chemical dispersants for use in the Gulf Oil Spill, and ensuring a safe water supply in a water-constrained environment. In short, he has shifted the paradigm toward promoting effective and practical applications of science to protect public health and the environment.

Jacob Moss is nominated for his rallying support and leadership in developing a powerful and innovative public-private partnership of over $800 million, which is driving a major international initiative that has already improved the lives of 100 million people living in the poorest areas of the world by reducing the health risks of indoor smoke from cooking meals over open fires and crude stoves. Exposure to indoor smoke from cooking is the world's fourth worst health risk and the World Health Organization estimates that it kills 4.3 million people every year. Jacob has worked for over a decade to provide clean and efficient stoves to the poorest of the poor, thereby saving lives, decreasing time spent cooking that increases time that women and children can use for education and economically productive activities, and reducing pressures on the local, regional, and global environment. His efforts have spurred dramatic increases in investments from the private sector, the US Government and other nations with a joint goal to improve the lives of 500 million people and save nearly 500,000 lives by 2020.

Stephanie Hogan is nominated for her exceptional work to address the interstate transport of air pollution, which will produce essential public health protections, and provide states with the tools and certainty needed to meet national goals for air quality. Stephanie has improved and supported a wide range of nationally significant protections under the Clean Air Act through her combination of expertise, initiative, innovation, and her ability to tackle complex problems while considering the perspectives and interests of many and varied stakeholders. Under Stephanie's leadership as the EPA's lead attorney on the continuing litigation defending the Transport Rule in the D.C. Circuit, the Agency has seen the court allow EPA's Transport Rule to go into effect. Her work was essential to the Agency's success in the Supreme Court ruling, and in the D.C. Circuit litigation that preceded it. The Transport Rule will significantly improve air quality in counties that are home to more than 75% of the U.S. population and will help avoid tens of thousands of premature deaths; the Agency projects that, 3 years into the program, it will have annual health and welfare benefits of $120 to $280 billion.

The Partnership for Public Service will announce the winners of the Sammies in October 2015.
Information on Partnership for Public Service and Service to America Medals:

http://servicetoamericamedals.org/