USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives Ukraine Field Team Announced as Finalists for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proud to see the recognition of the work of the USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Ukraine Field Team, represented by Shadrach Ludeman, Terah Yaroch, and Brooke Harding, with their selections as finalists for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. The team was nominated for their critical assistance to the Ukrainian people following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. 

The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Ukraine Field Team is a finalist in the Safety, Security, and International Affairs category for standing with and supporting the government and people of Ukraine amid Russia’s brutal war, partnering with local organizations to help Ukrainians evacuate to safety, and delivering food, clothing, power generators, and other critical supplies to those in need. Working closely with the USAID Mission in Ukraine, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Embassy Kyiv, and Ukrainian partners, the team acted swiftly to deliver immediate support to Ukraine before most other Western allies could gear up to help the besieged country face the crisis.

The Partnership for Public Service will recognize the seven recipients of 2023 Service to America Medals, including the Federal Employee of the Year, this fall. The Service to America Medals program was established in 2002 by the Partnership for Public Service, a non-partisan, non-profit organization.