Jerry Cromwell has a rich history of both preparing nurse leaders in research and collaborating with nurse researchers. On the basis of his extensive experience, he offers cogent advice on leadership roles that nurses can fill in research on health care policy formulation and implementation that will change the course of health care payment, delivery, and quality throughout the United States. Cromwell believes that nurse researchers can provide leadership through the development of skills in management, program development, research, and teaching. To illustrate the characteristics of nurse research leaders, Cromwell describes one such leader with whom he has worked for more than two decades. He details her skills in project leadership, her technical research skills, and her management skills. Cromwell also identifies other nurse researchers who are leading policy development at the government levels, including those at some of the top federal agencies.