AAPA honors AF medic with 2010 Federal Service PA of the Year award Published June 30, 2010 WASHINGTON -- Col. John W. Bullock of Falls Church, Va., received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Federal Service PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta IN EARLY June. He was honored for his groundbreaking work on behalf of physician assistants. His decisions on policy, clinical research and acquisition have helped enable the medical workforce both at home and overseas to provide quality, effective and accessible care in all kinds of environments. "For me, federal service as a PA, especially in the military, does not lend itself to a simple description. Federal service has never been about personal achievement but about service," said Colonel Bullock. "Every day I welcome the opportunity to improve the care our armed forces receive, whether at home or while deployed. I'm extremely honored to receive this award for serving my country." Colonel Bullock enlisted in the Air Force in 1974 as a medical services specialist and has been a PA for almost three decades. He currently serves as the program director for translational medicine at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs. He is the first to hold this new position designed to help communicate policy and provide guidance for the Military Health System's $1.2 billion medical research and development activities.