Photo By Anna Applegate | Dr. Nathanial Rice has been named Employee of the Year, recognized for his exceptional...... read more read more
FORT DETRICK, Md. – Dr. Nathanial Rice, a principal investigator at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, has been named the Defense Health Agency Research and Development-Military Research and Development Command Employee of the Year. This well-deserved award recognizes his exceptional leadership, program management and dedication to advancing medical solutions for the Warfighter and the nation.
Dr. Rice has been with USAMRICD since 2014, starting as a post-doctoral ORISE fellow. With limited prior exposure to toxicology, he quickly immersed himself in the field, driven by a passion for the mission and the camaraderie of his colleagues. In 2021, he was appointed as a civilian principal investigator.
Dr. Rice leads by example, knowing the impact that USAMRICD has on the Warfighter and the nation at large. “At USAMRICD we find medical solutions to battlefield injuries. Our goal is to transition medical products to the battlefield to protect the Warfighter from novel threats.”
As program manager, Rice oversees a $4.7 million program, coordinating efforts across two national laboratories, three branches of the Department of War and two academic collaborators. He represents USAMRICD and DHA at cross-functional team briefings, ensuring experiments are conducted correctly, deliverables are generated on time and the highest quality standards are met. His proactive communication has been instrumental in aligning timelines and requirements, even mitigating impacts of unexpected challenges such as the government shutdown.
In 2025, Rice mentored three new principal investigators, teaching them proper budget and research proposal development and execution while streamlining processes to ensure quality products. He also shared his programmatic knowledge with new principal investigators and institute leaders, mentoring three ORISE fellows and seven technicians. His efforts have fostered career engagement and stability, furthering research for DHA, USAMRICD and the broader scientific community.
Dr. Rice’s contributions extend beyond his immediate program. He fostered collaborations with two new USAMRICD principal investigators to secure additional funding totaling $3 million. He developed a comprehensive sustainment plan for new principal investigators and USAMRICD leaders during a period of major transition, including a five-year research plan with a seamless transition for near- and long-term planning — a $15 million investment. He collaborated with other USAMRICD research teams to ensure technician and technical expertise were maximally utilized and maintained as a DHA capability. Rice has also prepared at least 6 cross-departmental manuscripts and reports for publication within the last quarter to preserve knowledge and document best research practices. His efforts have resulted in a detail assignment at DHA HQ, demonstrating the value, quality, and proficiency of his work.
Despite rapidly evolving environments, and strategic shifts, Dr. Rice’s leadership and program management has been instrumental in maintaining program momentum through significant challenges, overcoming atypical research hurdles regarding capability development at USAMRICD. He expanded his expertise to guide aspects of his work, including sustainment of in vitro models and building engineering resources. Not only did he conduct his own research, but Rice submitted four additional research proposals outside his project’s scope as well. His intellectual and program management efforts resulted in USAMRICD maintaining a specialized exposure apparatus after losing the in-house engineering expertise for this advanced equipment.
Reflecting on his recognition as Employee of the Year, Dr. Rice said, “I knew my packet had gone up for review, but there are so many talented and impressive individuals within the enterprise that I honestly didn’t think twice about winning it. The announcement came as quite the shock and the flood of congratulations from friends and coworkers was very appreciated, if a bit overwhelming. It’s a humbling experience and I don’t take for granted the recognition, as it’s been a lot of trials and tribulations by my team to get here.”
Dr. Rice also emphasized the importance of the people he works with, saying, “The most rewarding part of the job is the people I work with. I have been very fortunate that I have been able to surround myself with exceptionally talented and kind-hearted people. I’ve asked a lot from my team and they have stepped up to the plate every time. This award spotlights my achievements, but all the research we do is backed up by countless unseen individuals making everything function. We have support offices helping us set up agreements, execute budgets, modifying facilities so we can run experiments, bringing in and maintaining equipment, ensuring the health and safety of the technicians, plus many other duties. My technical staff are also exceptional and have been able to adapt to rapidly changing priorities from the Department and USG at large, as well as supporting high-profile visits and inquiries. Success is a culmination of the people you work with, so the fact that this research program is being spotlighted through me is a testament to all of their sacrifices and hard work. I’m honored to work with the people around me and they are the reason that I continue to push forward.”
It is because of his exemplary leadership, strategic foresight and unwavering dedication to the mission, that Dr. Nathanial Rice is named DHA R&D-MRDC Employee of the Year. His contributions have provided critical stability and inspiration during a period of transition, fostering career growth, securing additional funding and preserving vital research capabilities for the enterprise. Rice’s work exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and perseverance that drives the success of the Defense Health Agency’s mission.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2026 15:24 |
| Story ID: | 557616 |
| Location: | FORT DETRICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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