Martha Kirkland, OTR, was the first full-time Executive Director of AOTF, a position she held for 21 years (1986–2007). During her tenure, she raised substantial funds to support pilot research studies that permitted occupational therapy scientists to prepare for successfully competing for federal grants, thereby promoting the evidence basis for practice. Kirkland received numerous AOTA and AOTF honors and awards, among them the AOTA/AOTF Presidents' Commendation Award in Honor of Wilma L. West. The AOTF Board launched the Martha Kirkland Leadership Legacy in her honor to support endowed programs to develop emerging leaders in occupational therapy.