2003: Col Matthew Bogdanos

As a Marine, Colonel Matthew Bogdanos did more than just make history - he helped preserve it.  
 
After several years in the Reserves, Col Bogdanos returned to active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2003, when the National Museum of Iraq was looted, he was chosen 
to lead the investigation.  
 
Bogdanos and his team are responsible for recovering approximately 5,500 artifacts from humanity's earliest civilizations. They also exposed the link between the black market art world 
and terrorist funding. 
 
In 2005, Bogdanos received a National Humanities Medal for his leadership in recovering the stolen artifacts. He returned to his previous work for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and published a book about the looting in Iraq. Proceeds from the 
book go to the Iraq Museum.