ArcNews has been featuring a series of articles honoring individuals who have made a difference in the world by applying a GIS solution to challenges or needs within their communities. Since these unique individuals have been selected for their innovations or special achievements in a particular field, the series is appropriately named GIS Heroes. The following are honorees.

Gov. Martin O'Malley Governor Martin O'Malley Leads with GIS		Leslie Armstrong USGS' Leslie Armstrong—GIS Hero		Henning Sten Hansen GIS Pioneer: Henning Sten Hansen—Denmark's First Professor in Geoinformatics
Lata Iyer (left) and Prashant Hedao GIS Emissaries Build Communities of Harmony		David Blankinship David Blankinship at the Forefront of Fire Service Applications		Paul Tweed High-School Teacher Paul Tweed Uses GIS to Encourage Higher-Level Thinking
Randy Johnson Commissioner Randy Johnson Evangelizes Importance of GIS at Local and National Level		Jacqueline daCosta GIS Pioneer: Jacqueline daCosta Champions GIS		Steeve Ebener WHO Manager Steeve Ebener Unites Global Support of Human Health with GIS
Tom Tate Tom Tate is Turning Responsibility Over to the Youth, One Community at a Time		Kate Lance Kate Lance Helps Unite the Geospatial Community		Steven Robinson Firefighter Inspires New Mapping System to Help Assess Risks, Map Fires, and Allocate Resources
Father Jeff Putthoff Hopeworks Founder Father Jeff Putthoff Encourages Youth Development with Technology Training		Susan Minnemeyer GIS Hero Susan Minnemeyer Works for Frontier Forest Conservation		Chris Warner Mission to Help the Environment Results in Helping Endangered Children
Mark Ericson Science Instructor Mark Ericson at the Santa Fe Indian School