CAPT Darrell Singer with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Terrance McCulley, May 19. 2011.

The Major Joe Haydon Award for Exceptional Contribution to President’s Emergency Plan for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Relief (PEPFAR) was established in 2006 as a memorial to Major Joe Haydon, U.S. Army. Major Haydon was a Foreign Area Officer and served as the Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the US Embassy, Abuja. He died in the line of duty in 2005 when his plane crashed as he returned from a mission in Lagos.

Major Haydon contributed exceptional time and effort in facilitating the launch of PEPFAR in Nigeria. Through his example, he led the team toward an interagency approach to tackling the daunting problem of human immunodeficiency virus HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

CAPT Darrell Singer, recent country director for the U.S. Military HIV Research Program’s DOD HIV Research Program-Nigeria, was awarded the 2011 Major Joe Haydon Award for Exceptional Contributions to PEPFAR in a ceremony held at the 2011 PEPFAR meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In 2005 the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP), under the leadership of CAPT Singer, established a partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Nigerian Ministry of Defense (NMOD) to strengthen human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, care, treatment and support in military personnel and civilians. Through PEPFAR funding, the program continues to provide services across the continuum and serves to reduce stigma, promote risk reduction, increase HIV testing and improve healthcare services in Nigeria.

CAPT Singer’s leadership and commitment to creating and fostering an inter-governmental partnership has earned the program the respect of his counterparts in the NMOD while increasing diversified funding for the program. Additionally, the program has garnered the accolades of many including the Deputy Secretary of State, Jack Lew, who recently declared the program a “model program.”

“Joe Haydon was a tireless supporter of PEPFAR, the Nigerian Military and our engagement with both. For Darrel to be awarded this is truly a great honor,” said COL Nelson Michael, Director, MHRP.

CAPT Singer developed an interest in preventative medicine in Africa in the early years of his career. He then went on to complete a Masters of Public Health with a focus on Humanitarian Assistance. He first presented HIV data in 2004 and has authored numerous HIV publications.