Sep 17, 2026
On Saturday, September 12th in Las Vegas at the American Orthotics and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly, NAAOP’s founding Executive Director, George W. Breece, was honored with the AOPA Special Award for Career Commitment to Advocacy in the field of orthotics and prosthetics. George served as Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) since 1987—39 years ago. NAAOP’s long-standing goal was to provide a policy voice in Washington, DC for O&P patients and the providers who serve them, and to advocate for quality of and access to orthotic and prosthetic care. George’s energy, passion, and dedication to these issues fueled NAAOP for nearly four decades. George grew up with family members with limb amputations, which inspired his passion and advocacy for change in the O&P field.
In the years since its inception, NAAOP has advocated for increased funding for O&P research and development, and Medicare and VA policies that align with the needs of O&P patients. This initially resulted in the establishment of the National Center or Medical Rehabilitation Research (“NCMRR”) at the National Institute of Health, and has since contributed to the development of Congressional and CMS policies that have improved the coverage, coding, and reimbursement of O&P services and technologies.
NAAOP’s George and Dena Breece Fellowship program, named in honor of his impact on the O&P field, has sponsored nine Breece Fellows to date. These Fellows have continued George’s fierce legacy of O&P advocacy in their respective careers. The Fellows are the embodiment of George’s immense impact and influence on the new generation of leaders and advocates that will continue to strengthen the position of the O&P field and the care the field provides to its patients.
The profession of O&P is forever changed by George Breece’s legacy. NAAOP thanks him for his decades of commitment and congratulates him on this incredible achievement. We also sincerely thank AOPA for its recognition of George’s accomplishments. George has led a career of immeasurable commitment, passion, and dedication to better the lives of all who are affected by limb loss and limb impairment. He is much deserving of this Career Achievement Award and his legacy will live on through the George and Dena Breece Fellows and the work of NAAOP in years to come.
