The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command said farewell and good luck to Col. Nancy L. Vause at a retirement ceremony June 5 at the Community Activities Center, Fort Detrick, Md.

Vause served as the director of both the USAMRMC Strategic Partnership Office as well as the AMEDD Army Research Lab Field Office.

Vause's journey began with a Bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University, continued on to a Master's degree from the University of Memphis and culminated her formal education in the area of Audiology with a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

In 1981, Vause received a direct commission as an Audiologist after working at the Memphis City Schools Hearing Impaired Program, Jackson State University and Augusta Speech and Hearing Center. Vause's many military clinical assignments included chief of Audiology and Hearing Conversation, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Schofield Barrack Health Clinic, Brooke, Tripler and Womack Army Medical Centers. Additionally, Vause served as the executive officer of the first combat Audiology Task Force during Operation Desert Shield and Storm. On the research end, Vause served as the Auditory Research Team Leader at the Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Army Research Lab.

Before coming back to USAMRMC, Vause served as commander for the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine-Pacific at Camp Zama, Japan.

Vause received many military awards for her service which include the Legion of Merit, the Order of Military Medical Merit, the Surgeon General's A Designator, the Military Audiology Association Elizabeth Guild Award and Secretary of the Army's Wilber Payne Award for her work on the Combat Helmet study. Vause was selected twice as military audiologist Scientific Researcher of the Year.

On a more personal note, Vause enjoys participating in recreational activities such as scuba diving, sailing, biking as well as reading and creating stained glass windows. She spends quality time with her two daughters, five grandchildren and her dog.

The command wishes Vause the best of luck in her future endeavors.