Cmdr. Sara Saltzstein with her citiation for the bronze medal. Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates presented her with her award during his visit to the Naval Academy on April 7. USNA photo by Gin Kai.

Saltzstein, who currently serves as the Brigade Medical Officer and as the officer representative for the women's swimming team, received the citation for her service at the U.S. Army's Camp Clark in Khowst, Afghanistan. She was deployed to the camp as its Embedded Training Team Medical Mentor and Officer in Charge of Troop Medical Clinic for a 13-month period that ended in December, 2008.

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any of the U.S. Armed Forces after Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under the circumstances described above, which are of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star.

The Bronze Star Medal may also be awarded for meritorious achievement. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

A 1991 graduate of the academy, Saltzstein garnered NCAA Division II All-American honors in five individual events during the course of her career.

Her citation reads as follows:

“For exceptionally merit-orious service while deployed to a combat theater in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Camp Clark Senior Medical Officer and Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. Commander Saltzstein's leadership, drive and initiative resulted in outstanding medical support to the Afghan Army advisor mission and contributed directly to the success of the counterinsurgency operations ion Khowst and Paktya Provinces. Her performance of duty in an austere combat environment reflects distinct credit upon her, the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and the United States Navy.“