David Crumbley, assistant clinical nursing professor, has already made a huge impact in his first semester. Crumbley is the recent recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded to him by the U.S. Navy.
"He's just an exceptional human being," Jennifer Schuessler, associate dean and associate professor of the nursing school, said. "I have been at Auburn for 23 years and I have never had a faculty member who has hit the ground running like he has."
Kevin Downey, of the university's NROTC program, said the award recognizes outstanding meritorious achievement.
The Meritorious Service Medal is the counterpart to the Bronze Star Medal for the recognition of meritorious non-combat service, Downey said.
Schuessler was not surprised at all when she heard that Crumbley was going to receive this award.
"When we interviewed him we knew he was really outstanding and would bring a lot of depth and expertise, particularly in two areas," Schuessler said.
The two areas are Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and being a certified wound care nurse. Crumbley instructs a critical clinical course which is an important senior level clinical course. "He has really gained the respect of those students," Schuessler said.
Crumbley's works and understanding of the Navy and the Armed Services has been utilized, Schuessler said.
There are "things that would never happen without his leadership," Schuessler said.
Crumbley enlisted in the army in 1979 where he served three years as a medic. He then went to nursing school and joined the Navy in 1993 where he got his commission as an officer.
Crumbley stayed in the Navy for 20 years.
"In 1995 I started studying advanced wound care and then continued to do that throughout my career," Crumbley said.
Crumbley held various positions of leadership including charge nurse, department head, coordinator for the Complex Wound and Limb Salvage Center at National Naval Medical Center and worked at Bethesda and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., according to Crumbley.
Even after Crumbley retired, his passion for the Navy stayed evident. Crumbly currently works with the Navy and Army to develop wound care education programs for those who will be deployed. As a liaison to the Virginia Federal Recovery Coordination Program, Crumbley worked with families of the wounded to coordinate the care of their loved ones.
"This position was especially rewarding because I had taken care of many of the wounded when they returned from Iraq/Afghanistan, and now I was able to assist them 3-4 year later as they were continuing with their lives," Crumbley said.
This October, when Crumbley first heard that he received this award, he was "honored and humbled because
it's just a great opportunity and a great honor to be able to work with the wounded," Crumbley said.
By the request of first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, Crumbley will be providing a unique clinical rotation at one of the large military hospitals in the U.S. for the seniors.
Downey said Crumbley was chosen to receive the Meritorious Service Medal because of his performance as an officer in the Navy during his last assignment.
"You cannot help but be passionate about what you do when you have been given the opportunity to serve those who have sacrificed so much, but ask for so little in return," Crumbley said.
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