The Partnership for Public Service honored the nine winners of this year’s Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals at a Washington, D.C. gala Thursday evening.

This video features physicist Jacob Taylor of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, winner of the Call to Service medal for his work pioneering scientific discoveries that could lead to significant advances in health care, communications, computing and technology.

The medals, popularly known as “Sammies,” are awarded to public servants who are making high-impact contributions to the health, safety and well-being of Americans.

Read about and view videos of the other winners below: