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Matthew Kinnard’s Most Unlikely Odyssey chronicles the remarkable life and career of Dr. Matthew Kinnard, an Army veteran and pioneering figure in biomedical research. From his modest beginnings to becoming a leader in federal science, Dr. Kinnard’s journey is one of service, discovery, and mentorship.Dr. Kinnard served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962 at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, where he conducted groundbreaking research on insect-borne viruses. After his military service, he embarked on a 43-year career in the federal government, making significant contributions to science and public health. As chief of field operations for the VA Medical Research Service (now the VA Office of Research and Development) from 1979 to 1985, he oversaw biomedical research across the Veterans Affairs system.Throughout his career, Dr. Kinnard also conducted basic neurophysiology research at the National Institutes of Health and held key administrative roles at the National Institute of Dental Research and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.Following his retirement from federal service in 2006, Dr. Kinnard remained dedicated to education and mentorship, serving as an adjunct professor of anatomy and physiology at the University of the District of Columbia for over a decade. Today, he continues to inspire the next generation of scientists as a mentor for students from high school to graduate programs, while also providing consulting support for women and minority-serving institutions.I have titled my story Matthew Kinnard’s Most Unlikely Odyssey because, in my opinion, based on my humble beginnings, the odds of reaching this relatively lofty perch were highly unlikely. However, there are four key elements/factors that I can point to with certainty that are important to my success, and they are not necessarily listed in the order of their importance. First, I believe that I was blessed with a better than average intellect and a doggedde termination to succeed.Second, I was endowed with an insatiable curiosity. Third, I have stood, and continue to stand, on the shoulders of giants, both living and dead, whom I respect and have tried to emulate. Fourth, I am the beneficiary of an incredible supporting cast, both literally and figuratively-primarily my wife, Regina, my daughters, Mary and Lisa, and a cheerleading cadre of friends and associates that is second to none. The combination of these four elements, in my opinion,have been of paramount importance to my ascent from obscurityto relative success over the past 86 years.
