WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development's Chief Geographer and Director of the U.S. Global Development Lab's GeoCenter, Carrie Stokes, is a finalist for the 2016 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals for achievements in international affairs. Stokes was selected for her advocacy, leadership, and action to promote the use of spatial analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) in U.S. international development and humanitarian efforts.

Since joining USAID in 2000, Stokes has championed the use of geospatial technologies to help solve global development challenges. By using data analytics, statistics, data visualization, and geographic information systems, Stokes has worked to increase data-driven decision-making across the agency and maximize the impact of agency programs ranging from climate change adaptation and natural resource management to improved health, food security, and disaster relief.

Stokes's ongoing efforts led to the 2011 creation of the GeoCenter, which is part of USAID's Global Development Lab. The GeoCenter team works directly with field missions and Washington-based bureaus to integrate geographic analysis into the strategic planning, design, monitoring, and evaluation of USAID's development programs. To date, the GeoCenter has provided geographic analyses and satellite imagery to USAID programs in more than 50 countries, trained over 650 USAID professional staff in the use of geospatial tools, and built a global network of international GIS specialists in more than 25 USAID field offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  .

Stokes is one of 32 finalists for the Service to America Medals (known as "the Sammies"), which highlight excellence in the federal workforce and inspire other talented and dedicated individuals to go into public service. The 2016 finalists will be honored May 3 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. as part of Public Service Recognition Week.

The Service to America Medal recipients will be announced September 20 in Washington, D.C. For more information about the finalists, visit: http://servicetoamericamedals.org/