John C. Villforth Leadership Award Winner

Contact: Jenise Brassell (513) 533-8360

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) congratulates Commander (CDR) Duane Hammond for being selected to receive this year’s John C. Villforth Leadership Award. The award recognizes CDR Hammond’s leadership in bringing protective engineering controls to the asphalt milling industry.  The award will be presented at the upcoming U.S. Public Health Service Scientific and Training Symposium May 16–19 in Oklahoma City, OK.

CDR Hammond is a mechanical engineer in the NIOSH Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART).  His work focuses on preventing worker exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, and physical hazards. He recently led a project aimed at protecting workers from silica exposure and lung cancer risk during asphalt milling in highway construction. In 2015, he published a Best Practices document and worked with labor, industry, and government stakeholders to reach an agreement to place silica dust controls on all new milling machines sold in the U.S. by January 1, 2017. Prior to joining the U.S. Public Health Service, CDR Hammond worked as a mechanical engineer for Rittal Corporation from 1999-2002 and for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1996-1999.  He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering, and is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio.

The Commissioned Officers Association (COA) sponsors the John C. Villforth Leadership Award.  Named for RADM John C. Villforth, who held the post of Chief Engineer from 1985-1989 in the U.S. Public Health Service.  The award honors those who exemplify and excel in leadership, have demonstrated exemplary professional conduct, and are committed to constant improvement exhibiting the highest degree of character, technical excellence, and competence. It recognizes and acknowledges outstanding architects and engineers whose service in the public trust meets the highest ethical standards and is in the best interest of the public’s health.

NIOSH is the federal agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. For more information about NIOSH visit https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/.