Dr. Maryanne Vahey, the Science Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research received the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, the highest honorary civilian award for a DA civilian and equivalent to a military Distinguished Service Medal, from Secretary McHugh for her service in support of Army medical research.

For more than three decades, Dr. Vahey's research protocols, collaborative studies and rigorous scientific discipline have help shape the Army's reputation as a leader in scientific discovery. Her endless contributions to scientific endeavor and frequent contributions to peer-reviewed literature are well known to her colleagues, contemporaries, the National and international research community and her Army Family. Dr. Vahey's position as the Science Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research ensures that Army Medicine will continue to be on the forefront of scientific advancement and achievement.