When she left the Active Duty Army Nurse Corps to pursue a Ph.D. in Nursing, Capt. Angela Martinelli planned a return to the Army at the conclusion of her studies. Because of downsizing in the military, her plans were altered. Rather than moving from Reserve status back to the Active Army, she chose a commission into the U.S. Public Health Service. During her 14-year tenure at PHS, she has taken part in several health, safety, and emergency response efforts in the United States and abroad, including missions to Nicaragua and Panama. For her efforts, Martinelli was selected as the 2012 PHS Nurse Responder of the Year.

Established in 2005, the Nurse Responder of the Year award acknowledges nurse officers in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. Nominees must have made outstanding achievements and contributed to emergency and disaster preparedness in response to national or international public health threats.

"I am honored to receive this award, and I think it reflects on the type of work the PHS does on a daily basis," said Martinelli. "The Public Health Service serves a critical function for our nation and around the world. I am privileged to have a job I love and to play small role in promoting and protecting global health."

CAPT Martinelli currently works for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs managing research grants for lung cancer, traumatic brain injury, orthopaedics, and other diseases and conditions.

CDMRP director Col. Jeffrey Leggit, M.D., said Martinelli is deserving of her recognition.

"This award defines the type of person Martinelli is," said Leggit. "She always looks for ways to assist and help others with their programs, and even in her spare time, she shares her skills and talents to help those in need. She is a credit to the Public Health Service and the CDMRP, and we are proud of her many accomplishments."

Martinelli took part in Operation Promise 2010 aboard the USS Iwo Jima. During the four-week mission to Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama, Martinelli led seminars on personal hygiene, sanitation, and safe food preparation; helped local officials in test their water supply; and consulted in pest control practices. She had personal interactions with 2,205 men, women and children during the mission.

Previous activities during Martinelli's PHS tenure have included serving on the medical response team for two Presidential inaugurations; four States of the Union addresses; the Ronald Reagan State Funeral; and multiple natural disasters and public health emergencies. In 2001 she responded on-site following the September 11th Terrorist Attacks in New York City and Anthrax Attacks in Washington, D.C. Also, from 2002 to 2006, Martinelli served as the Lead PHS Response Coordinator for the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

In March 2012, Martinelli served on her 14th mission with Operation Smile International, an organization that provides safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children and adults born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

"I have been fortunate to serve in many different ways during my career as a PHS nurse, and a day does not go by that I go home having learned something new," Martinelli said. "It is an honor to represent the United States both at home and around the world, and I am grateful for the opportunities that nursing and the Uniformed Services have placed in my path."