Press release written by Talya George, Executive Director at the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association

The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) has announced Dr. Samuel Tate as the 2023 recipient of the Paul F. Landis Veterinarian of the Year Award. Presented in honor of former VVMA and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) President Dr. Paul F. Landis, this award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to veterinary medicine and the creation of a strong local and state veterinary association. The award was presented at the Virginia Veterinary Conference, which was held at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke, Virginia on February 17, 2023.

Tate earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1967 from Michigan State and his Master of Public Health in 1972 from the University of North Carolina and has a storied career as an Air Force Veteran. He later served as Chief Veterinary Services of the Air Force and Naval Hospital for assignments at the United Kingdom Subsistence Center in London England, the Naval Supply Depot in Guam, and Naval Supply Center in Charleston, South Carolina. He also consulted on the sanitary and quality assurance specification for the construction and processing of a filled milk plant at U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

His third assignment with the Navy was Staff Veterinarian, Navy Food Service System Office in Washington D.C. where he provided expertise in the procurement, inspection, transportation, surveillance, and foodservice research and development in the Navy Food Service Program for ships and shore stations worldwide.

His three consecutive assignments and nine consecutive years attached to the U.S. Navy are more than any other veterinarian in the history of the AF Veterinary Corps.

His last two assignments in the Air Force were as Chief Environment Health Services at Ramstein AB, Germany and Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. Here, he continued to perform duties in preventive medicine and food sanitation. At both bases, his significant efforts were in combat readiness, instructing medical and civil engineering units in field sanitation, and hygiene.

Tate retired from the Air Force in September 1987 at the rank of Major.

Outside of his military service, Tate has demonstrated service to the profession through his dedication to organized veterinary medicine. A life member of the AVMA and VVMA, he has also been involved with the American Public Health Association and was a member of the Greater Peninsula Veterinary Medical Associate (GPVMA) for over 30 years, serving as secretary/treasurer for 6 years and then director, representing the GPMA on the VVMA Board for 18 years. Since 2008, he has continued to serve as VVMA director, representing the Virginia State Animal Response Team (VASART) and has also served as secretary of VASART during this time. He was a major contributor to the formation of VASART when it was established in 2007, as an Annex to the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operation Plan. Part of the mission of SART includes assisting localities in establishing Community Animal Response Teams (CART). He has participated in the organization and training of 17 pet shelter teams, 11 of which are CARTs. These teams have responded by operating pet shelters in 8 declared states of emergency since 2008.

Tate jumped into action in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Serving long hours as a volunteer at call centers, he was an invaluable part of the team at his local health district. An understanding of epidemiology made him a huge asset in contact tracing early in the pandemic, while his population health experiences served him well later in the pandemic while he was manning the vaccine registration database to make vaccination appointments for front line workers.

Outside of his military service, veterinary service, and public health service, Tate is a man of faith, and of community involvement. Having obtained the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth, Tate served the Boy Scouts as an adult for 30 years in 7 councils, 3 of which were overseas, including roles as cub master, assistant scout master, scout master and committee chairman.

Tate has been the volunteer coordinator for veterinary activities for the Peninsula Medical Reserve Corps since 2006.

Tate returned to Vietnam in 2013 and 2017 with Vets With A Mission, providing dental and medical services to over 2000 human patients.

He is an active member of the American Legion and participates in many ceremonies and projects.

Always active in his faith, Tate has served in roles as usher, elder, council chairman, adult Sunday school teacher, and vacation bible school leader, at Air Force Base Chapels both overseas and at home. Tate and his wife Dianne are project officers for Langley AFB Chapels Wednesday Meal Night and are link-up coordinators of Officer Christian Fellowship in Hampton Roads. He also assists Dianne in conducting Good News Clubs & 5-Day Bible Clubs in the area. He attends the Newport News Class of Bible Study Fellowship and for the past 20 years, volunteers in child watch during leaders’ prayer time.