WASHINGTON – Maj. L. Tammy Duckworth, President Obama's pick to be the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, will receive the AAUW/NASPA Women of Distinction Award at the University of Maryland, College Park, on Thursday, June 4, during the 2009 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.
Duckworth directs public affairs, intergovernmental relations and internal communications for the VA. She also oversees programs for homeless veterans, consumer affairs, and special rehabilitative events. Before her appointment, Duckworth was director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.
In 2004, Duckworth was a Black Hawk pilot flying combat missions north of Baghdad when her helicopter was attacked by a rocket-propelled grenade. She sustained severe injuries, ultimately resulting in the loss of her legs and partial use of one arm. She received many decorations for her service, including the Purple Heart and the Air Medal.
Since her recovery at Walter Reed, Duckworth has dedicated her life to public service. In 2006, Duckworth ran for U.S. Congress in the 6th District of Illinois, losing to her Republican opponent by only a small percentage of the vote.
Before the war, Duckworth was manager of district administration for Rotary International’s Asia-Pacific region. She also helped coordinate research grants and funding at the Center for Nursing Research at Northern Illinois University.
Duckworth earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii and a master’s degree from George Washington University. Born in Thailand, she is the daughter of a U.S. Marine who fought in Vietnam.
In addition to Duckworth, the other 2009 Women of Distinction awardees are:
- Diane Rehm, host, The Diane Rehm Show
- Anucha Browne Sanders, senior associate athletic director of marketing, University at Buffalo
- Martine Rothblatt, founder, United Therapeutics
- Melissa Poe Hood, founder, Kids For A Clean Environment
They join a prestigious group of more than 100 women who have been honored since the award was established in 1985. Presented annually at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, the Women of Distinction Awards honor women leaders who have made extraordinary accomplishments in their professions or their communities and who represent inspiring role models for women student leaders. Past awardees include playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Olympic medalist Dominique Dawes.
Prudential and the Princeton Review are the Platinum Sponsors of the 2009 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, including the Women of Distinction Awards. Other conference sponsors include the National Panhellenic Conference and the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.
Since 1985, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders has provided a platform to help thousands of college and university women to develop leadership skills, network with other student leaders, and interact with women who hold leadership positions. The conference is presented by AAUW and NASPA.
