THE LATE DR. BIJNAN ACHARYA HONORED WITH JEFFERSON AWARD

February 20, 2007

Dr. Bijnan Acharya, a USAID/Nepal specialist who perished in the line of duty in the Taplejung helicopter crash on September 23, 2006, was honored at a ceremony held today at the USAID/Nepal building in Kathmandu. 

Members of Dr. Acharya’s family, U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty, and USAID/Nepal Director Don Clark attended the private ceremony.  Ambassador Moriarty presented Dr. Acharya’s family with the Thomas Jefferson Star Award for Foreign Service, the highest honor given by the State Department to an employee killed in the line of duty.
 
Dr. Acharya and USAID/Nepal Deputy Director Margaret Alexander were among the 24 officials, environmentalists, crew members, and journalists who died in the Taplejung crash.  Both Dr. Acharya and Ms. Alexander are recipients of the award, which was announced by USAID Administrator Ambassador Randall Tobias in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on November 11. "USAID lost two beloved colleagues, along with 22 other passengers equally dedicated to the cause of environmental conservation in Nepal," Ambassador Tobias said at that ceremony. "Word of the tragedy reverberated here in this building as it did, throughout the world, in over 80 missions and wherever our USAID family is located.”

Ambassador Moriarty echoed these sentiments. “Bijnan’s death was a great loss to his family, friends, and colleagues.  As my country’s Ambassador here, I honor his achievements in helping the United States help Nepal, and I am humbled in presenting this award to Bijnan’s family.” 

Dr. Acharya worked with USAID/Nepal for more than a decade, most recently serving as an Environment and Forestry Program Specialist. He was held in the highest regard by his peers and colleagues at USAID, the Government of Nepal, and other international organizations. USAID/Nepal is the humanitarian and development assistance arm of the U.S. Mission to Nepal.

The U.S. Congress established the presidential Thomas Jefferson Star award to honor the sacrifice of employees in the performance of their duties. The Thomas Jefferson Star Award is named after the third President of the United States (1801-1809), who is remembered for his powerful advocacy of liberty.

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