Matthew A. Kinnard, Ph.D., a 16 year prostate cancer survivor concluded a 43 year Federal service career on January 2, 2006 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Included in this 43 year period was 1)a three year military enlistment in the U.S. Army at The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) where he conducted laboratory research on arthropod borne viruses. The remainder of his Federal career was spent at 2) NIH where he conducted basic neurophysiology research on lower primates and 3) served as a Health Scientist Administrator for the National Institute of Dental Research and for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Also included in his 43 year Federal career was a six year assignment at the 4) Veterans’ Administration Central Office where he oversaw biomedical research conducted at over 100 VA medical centers located throughout the continental U.S. and all its territories. Upon retiring from Federal service, he served as 5) Adjunct Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Division of Science and Mathematics at the University of the District of Columbia for more than 10 years. He continues to serve as a science consultant for women and underrepresented minority institutions and as a mentor for individual students ranging from high school through graduate and professional school.