Col. (Ret.) Washington's distinguished career in nursing and military service spans over five decades, marked by pioneering achievements and unwavering dedication.
SAN ANTONIO, TX, July 11, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Lawrence C. Washington, Col. (Ret.), has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Col. (Ret.) Washington's distinguished career in nursing and military service spans over five decades, marked by pioneering achievements and unwavering dedication. Beginning as a private in Operation Whitecoat, a biodefence medical research program conducted by the Unites States Army, and later serving as an enlisted medical aidman at Walter Reed General Hospital from 1954 to 1956, his journey through the ranks of the United States Army Nurse Corps is a testament to his commitment and skill. His early work in psychiatric mental health nursing between 1962 and 1967, laid the foundation for a career characterized by compassion and innovation.
Throughout his military service, Col. (Ret.) Washington held key leadership roles in nursing. He was an Assistant Professor at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing from 1972 to 1977, influencing future nurses. Additionally, he was chief of the Department of Nursing at the United States Army Medical Activity in Berlin, Germany, from 1981 to 1983, and later assistant chief at William Beaumont Army Medical Center until 1987, coinciding with his retirement as a Colonel of the United States Army Nurse Corps. Furthermore, Col. Washington returned to active duty at the Burn Unit of the Wounded Warrior Project at Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 2008-2009.
In addition to his military and nursing experience, Col. Washington contributed extensively to the field of education, serving as a clinical instructor and skills supervisor in psychiatric nursing for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Nursing; Assistant professor and adjunct faculty member for clinical pediatric nursing at Columbia Union College; as well as at Howard University College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences. While serving as a commonwealth Assistant Professor at George Mason University College of Nursing and Health Science in Fairfax, Virginia, Washington became the program coordinator of the Saudi-U.S. University Project. He also lectured and provided clinical supervision in health assessment, leadership and management, long term care and community- based health promotion and disease prevention. He then served as an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. Retired Colonel Washington began his civilian educational career as an instructor at the University of Texas at El Paso Community College. Washington began classroom teaching in the Army Nurse Corps as an Assistant Professor of Nursing, Junior year Coordinator, at the University of Maryland for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing Campus (WRAIN), in addition to other diverse educational roles to include lecturer and provided clinical supervision in health assessment, leadership and management, long term care and community-based health promotion and disease prevention. Later he transitioned to assistant professor and adjunct faculty member at Howard University College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences then to Columbia Union College. He later served as supervisor in psychiatric nursing in addition to other diverse educational roles for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Nursing.
Col. Washingtons academic journey paved the way for his success. He obtained a diploma from Freedman's Hospital School of Nursing followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland in 1968. Later, he earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the Catholic University of America in 1972. Col. Washington further augmented his education with a Military Science Certification from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in residency in 1978, becoming the first African American male nurse to accomplish this feat.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Col. (Ret.) Washington has been an active member of several civic organizations. He served on the board of directors for the U.S. Army Medical Museum Foundation and currently supports the Freedman's Hospital school of Nursing Alumni Association. Additionally, he plays an active role in the Dupont Park Seventh- Day Adventist Church in Washington, DC, and demonstrates unwavering dedication to education and youth empowerment through his support of Pine Forge Academy. Col. (Ret.) Washington's illustrious career is marked with an array of achievements and accolades. In 1967 he became the first male nurse to be commissioned into the regular Army (RA), setting the stage for his eventual ascent to the rank of full Colonel in the Unites States Army Nurse Corps, the first among Black men in America. In addition to his role as a nurse, he also made significant contributions to medical advancements by donating blood and participating in the development of the anthrax vaccine during Operation Whitecoat. Featured in the History Makers in 2018, Col. (Ret.) Washington earned numerous awards, such as the United States Legion of Merit, Three Meritorious Service Medals, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, (Berlin, Germany) Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Order of Military Medical Merit and an Expert field Medical Badge, a medal from Operation Whitecoat, and many others.
In his personal life, Col. (Ret.) Washington draws inspiration from his mother's valedictorian speech on "The Spirit of Service". This ethos has guided not only his professional journey but also his personal endeavors. Currently working on "The Personification of the Spirit of Service", a book to detail his life story and those who have influenced him. Col. (Ret.) Washington continues to embody the spirit of service that has defined his career. With five children, eleven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren who carry forward his legacy, his impact extends beyond his professional achievements into a future inspired by compassion, dedication, and service.
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