Vice Admiral C.

Forrest Faison, III

Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy
Official image of Vice Admiral C. Forrest Faison III, Surgeon General of the NavyA native of Norfolk, Virginia, Vice
Adm. Forrest Faison received his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University and his medical degree from the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He completed post-graduate training in general pediatrics at
Naval Hospital San Diego and fellowship training in neurodevelopmental pediatrics at the University of Washington.

Command Sergeant Major Robert C. Luciano

Command Sergeant Major Robert C. Luciano
Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Defense Health Agency
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert C. LucianoCommand Sergeant Major Luciano assumed responsibility as the third senior
enlisted advisor to the Defense Health Agency on April 8, 2016. As the senior enlisted advisor, he is the personal
advisor to the Director of the Defense Health Agency on all issues associated with the readiness, morale, welfare and
utilization for the 2,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Civilian personnel assigned at 29 locations world-wide
supporting the Defense Health Agency.
Com

Richard W. Thomas, M.D., D.D.S.

President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, President, USUHS
Dr. Richard W. Thomas Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Defense Health Agency Healthcare Operations
Directorate.

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is the sixth President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. As president, Dr. Thomas is
responsible for the academic, research and service mission of the university. He advises the Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs and the four Surgeons General on a wide array of issues related to graduate health
professions education and healthcare research.
Dr. Thomas retired from the Army in May 2016 at the rank of Major General. He is a physician and dentist whose last
assignment was as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Defense Health Agency Healthcare Operations
Directorate.
Dr. Thomas previously served as the Commanding General of Western Regional Medical Command; Chief, U.S.
Army Medical Corps and Senior Market Executive for TRICARE Puget Sound Multi-Service Market.
Richard W. Thomas, M.D., D.D.S.
President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, President, USUHS
Dr. Richard W. Thomas is the sixth President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. As
president, Dr. Thomas is responsible for the academic, research and service mission of the university. He advises the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the four Surgeons General on a wide array of issues related to
graduate health professions education and healthcare research.
Dr. Thomas retired from the Army in May 2016 at the rank of Major General. He is a physician and dentist whose last
assignment was as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Defense Health Agency Healthcare Operations
Directorate.
Dr. Thomas previously served as the Commanding General of Western Regional Medical Command; Chief, U.S.
Army Medical Corps and Senior Market Executive for TRICARE Puget Sound Multi-Service Market.
Among his many military assignments, Dr. Thomas served as the Surgeon General for the U.S. Forces Afghanistan,
and Senior Medical Advisor for the International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command Afghanistan; assistant
Army Surgeon General for Force Projection; and commander of Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky. He has deployed in support of Operation Just Cause, Operation Enduring Freedom, and
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Thomas previously served as the director of the Department of Surgery Research Program at Madigan Army Medical
Center, Fort Lewis, Washington and held a faculty appointment as clinical associate professor at the University of
Washington in Seattle. He also served as adjunct faculty and staff surgeon at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle
and American Lake Veterans Administration Hospital in Tacoma.
Dr. Thomas graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) on an ROTC scholarship in 1981. He is a graduate of
the WVU School of Dentistry and served in the U.S. Army Dental Corps before receiving his Doctor of Medicine
degree from the WVU School of Medicine in 1994. He earned a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S.
Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in 2006. He completed his internship at Brooke Army Medical
Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and his residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Madigan Army
Medical Center.

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Dr. Paul R. Cordts
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Dr. Paul R. Cordts

Director, Functional Champion, Military Health System, Defense

Health Agency

Dr. Paul R. Cordts is presently serving as the Director, Functional Champion for the Military Health System (MHS),
Defense Health Agency. Dr. Cordts oversees the execution of DoD clinical policies, programs and activities, as well as
provides oversight for a broad range of quality assessment/quality improvement efforts and safe healthcare delivery
throughout the MHS. He assists the Director in management of seven major Divisions: Operations, Readiness, Clinical
Support, TRICARE Health Plan, Pharmacy, Warrior Care and Public Health.
Dr. Cordts began his Army career in 1980 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC at The Johns Hopkins
University. He entered the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS; Bethesda, Md.) and
graduated with an MD in 1984. He completed his internship and residency in General Surgery at William Beaumont
Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, in 1989 and a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Boston University Medical Center
in 1992. As an Army officer he served at every level, including Program Director, General Surgery and Chief,
Department of Surgery, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI; Director, Health Policy and Services, Office of The Surgeon
General and Military Treatment Facility commands at Fort Stewart, GA and Fort Campbell, KY. He deployed as a
vascular surgeon to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dr. Cordts retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after 30 years of Service. His final position was as Lead Physician
for Army Medicines Performance Triad (Sleep, Activity and Nutrition). Immediately following retirement, Dr. Cordts
served as the Senior Medical Compliance Officer, Clinical Support Division, HCOD and DHA representative to the High
Reliability Organization Task Force, developing Action Plans for the MHS 90-Day Review, directed by the Secretary of
Defense. In addition, he co-chaired the Transparency Initiative Group, a Tri-service committee whose role was in
developing a framework for MHS Transparency and identifying Access, Quality and Patient Safety measures for
useful/user-friendly public reporting.
Dr. Cordts is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and boardcertified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Distinguished
Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery and Associate Professor of Surgery at USUHS.

erry Adirim, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Health Services Policy and Oversight

Dr. Terry Adirim, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, is the

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and
Oversight in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs. In this role, she serves as the principal staff assistant and
advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs for
clinical policies and programs, including oversight of quality
assessment/quality improvement, patient safety, and population-based
health care management across the Military Health System (MHS). MHS
serves approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries worldwide.

Command Sergeant Major Robert C.

Luciano

Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Defense

Health Agency

Command Sergeant Major Luciano

assumed responsibility as the third senior enlisted advisor to the Defense
Health Agency on April 8, 2016. As the senior enlisted advisor, he is the
personal advisor to the Director of the Defense Health Agency on all
issues associated with the readiness, morale, welfare and utilization for
the 2,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Civilian personnel assigned at 29
locations world-wide supporting the Defense Health Agency.
Command Sergeant Major Luciano entered the U.S. Army in January
1984, attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and went
on to complete Advanced Individual Training as a Combat Medic at Fort
Sam Houston, Texas.
He has served in all leadership positions commensurate with his Career
Field. These include Command Sergeant Major, Battalion Senior Medical
NCO, Chief Clinical NCO/Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Operations
Sergeant, Senior Clinical NCO, Wardmaster, Platoon Sergeant, Squad
Leader, Ambulance Section NCOIC, and Consolidated Troop Medical
Clinic NCOIC.
Command Sergeant Major Lucianos overseas assignments include the
67th Combat Support Hospital, Wrzburg Germany; 212th Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital, Miesau Germany; Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,
Landstuhl Germany; two combat tours in Iraq; Command Sergeant

Major, Europe Regional Medical Command, Heidelberg Germany; and

Command Sergeant Major, Regional Health Command - Pacific, Hawaii.
His stateside assignments include 1/61 Infantry, Fort Polk Louisiana;
Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg North Carolina; Bayne-Jones
Army Community Hospital, Fort Polk Louisiana; Kimbrough Ambulatory
Care Center, Fort Meade Maryland; Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort
Lewis Washington; (PROFIS) 47th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Lewis
Washington; the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort
Bliss Texas; the 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell Kentucky;
and William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss Texas.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star
Medal with one oak-leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with seven
oak-leaf clusters, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army
Commendation Medal with two oak-leaf clusters, Army Achievement
Medal with four oak-leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign
Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Army Good
Conduct Medal (10th award), Meritorious Unit Citation (with oak-leaf
cluster), Combat Action Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Air
Assault Badge, Army Drivers Badge and German Schtzenschnur Badge
(Gold). Additionally, he is a member of the Order of Military Medical
Merit, 3rd US Cavalry Order of the Combat Spur, is a commissioned
Kentucky Colonel and is an honorary Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
member.
Command Sergeant Major Luciano has a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Management and an Associate in Arts. He completed the U.S.
Army Combat Medical Specialist Course, Practical Nurse Course,
Instructors Course, Equal Opportunity Representative Course, Manager
Development Course, Supervisor Development Course, Executive
Leadership Course, Total Quality Management Course, Action Officer
Development Course, Company Commanders Safety Course, Command
Sergeants Major Course, CSM Force Management Course and he is a
Licensed Practical Nurse.
He is an Honor Graduate of the 5th Infantry Division NCO Academys
Primary Leadership Development Course, and a Commandants List

Graduate of the Academy of Health Sciences Basic NCO Course and

Advanced NCO Course. He has completed the USAREUR Company
Commander/First Sergeant Course and the United States Army
Sergeants Major Academy, Class 56.

Dr. Paul R. Cordts

Director, Functional Champion, Military

Health System, Defense Health Agency

Dr. Paul R. Cordts is presently serving as the Director, Functional

Champion for the Military Health System (MHS), Defense Health Agency.
Dr. Cordts oversees the execution of DoD clinical policies, programs and
activities, as well as provides oversight for a broad range of quality
assessment/quality improvement efforts and safe healthcare delivery
throughout the MHS. He assists the Director in management of seven
major Divisions: Operations, Readiness, Clinical Support, TRICARE
Health Plan, Pharmacy, Warrior Care and Public Health.

Dr. Cordts began his Army career in 1980 as a Distinguished Military

Graduate from ROTC at The Johns Hopkins University. He entered the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS; Bethesda,
Md.) and graduated with an MD in 1984. He completed his internship
and residency in General Surgery at William Beaumont Army Medical
Center, El Paso, Texas, in 1989 and a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at
Boston University Medical Center in 1992. As an Army officer he served
at every level, including Program Director, General Surgery and Chief,
Department of Surgery, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI; Director,
Health Policy and Services, Office of The Surgeon General and Military
Treatment Facility commands at Fort Stewart, GA and Fort Campbell,
KY. He deployed as a vascular surgeon to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dr. Cordts retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after 30 years of
Service. His final position was as Lead Physician for Army Medicines
Performance Triad (Sleep, Activity and Nutrition). Immediately following
retirement, Dr. Cordts served as the Senior Medical Compliance Officer,
Clinical Support Division, HCOD and DHA representative to the High
Reliability Organization Task Force, developing Action Plans for the MHS
90-Day Review, directed by the Secretary of Defense. In addition, he cochaired the Transparency Initiative Group, a Tri-service committee
whose role was in developing a framework for MHS Transparency and
identifying Access, Quality and Patient Safety measures for useful/userfriendly public reporting.
Dr. Cordts is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, member of the
Order of Military Medical Merit and board-certified in General Surgery
and Vascular Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons, Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery and
Associate Professor of Surgery at USUHS.

Ms. Stacy Cummings, SES

Ms. Stacy Cummings serves as the Program

Executive Officer for the Program Executive Office Defense Healthcare
Management Systems. As Program Executive Officer, Ms. Cummings
oversees the Department of Defense electronic health
record modernization including the operational, data exchange, and
interoperability initiatives. Specifically, she provides direction to the
following program offices: the DoD Healthcare Management System
Modernization, the Defense Medical Information Exchange, the Joint
Operational Medicine Information Systems, and the Department of
Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office.
Ms. Cummings previously held senior executive positions at two
operating administrations within the Department of Transportation
where she established strategic direction, provided executive leadership
and managed daily operations. Additionally, Ms. Cummings served as
the Departments executive sponsor for the Joining Forces initiative to
connect service members, veterans, and their families with career
opportunities in transportation.
Beginning her career as an Acquisition Logistics Intern at the Naval Air
Systems Command, Ms. Cummings spent 17 years with the Department
of the Navy where she gained expertise in logistics, maintenance
support and information technology acquisition and deployment. She
held senior positions with the Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering
Services Command; Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers; Program

Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers

and Intelligence; and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.
She brings significant experience leading people, managing complex
organizations, and overseeing multi-billion dollar financial operations.
Ms. Cummings received her Bachelor of Science in Business Logistics
from The Pennsylvania State University and holds a Master of Science in
National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed
Forces as well as a Master of Science in Management/Information
Systems from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Certified in both Program Management and Acquisition Logistics, Ms.
Cummings is a graduate of the Naval Air Systems Commands Senior
Executive Management Development Program and the Defense Senior
Leader Development Program.

Lt. General Nadja Y. West

Surgeon General of the U.S. Army

LTG Nadja Y. West is the 44th Surgeon

General of the United States Army and Commanding General, US Army
Medical Command.
LTG West is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a
Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. She attended the George

Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, where she

earned a Doctorate of Medicine Degree.
She completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Martin
Army Hospital, Fort Benning, GA. During this assignment she deployed
with the 197th Infantry Brigade, 24th Infantry Division during Operation
Desert Shield and was attached to the 2/69th Armor Battalion during
Desert Storm. She then served at Blanchfield Army Hospital, Fort
Campbell, KY as a staff family physician and then the Officer in Charge
of the Aviation Medicine Clinic. While there she also participated in a
medical mission with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
LTG West completed a second residency in dermatology at Fitzsimons
Army Medical Center and the University of Colorado Medical Center in
Denver, CO. She was then assigned as the Chief, Dermatology Service at
Heidelberg Army Hospital in Germany. In her following assignment, she
served as the Division Surgeon of the 1st Armored Division, Bad
Kreuznach, Germany; deploying to the former Yugoslavian Republic of
Macedonia and Kosovo as the Deputy Task Force Surgeon.
She was then assigned as Chief, Department of Medicine and the
Dermatology Service at 121st General Hospital in Seoul, Republic of
Korea. LTG West then commanded McDonald Army Community Hospital,
Fort Eustis, VA. Following command she served as the Deputy
Commander for Integration at the National Naval Medical Center
(NNMC), Bethesda, MD where she became the first Army Officer to join
the leadership team at NNMC. She then served as the J-3, Director of
Operations, for Joint Task Force National Capital Regional Medical.
Following this assignment LTG West commanded Womack Army Medical
Center, Fort Bragg, NC and then went on to serve as the Commanding
General, Europe Regional Medical Command.
Following command in Europe, LTG West served as the Deputy Chief of
Staff, G1/4/6, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church,
VA. Following this assignment she moved to her most recent
assignment as the Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon, Washington,
DC. As the Joint Staff Surgeon she served as the chief medical advisor
to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and coordinated on all issues

related to Health Services including operational medicine, force health

protection, and readiness within the US military.
LTG West completed the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and
Advanced Courses and the Army Command and General Staff College.
She is also a graduate of the National War College; earning a Master of
Science in National Security Strategy.
Her awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the
Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf
Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal
with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the NATO Medal, various campaign medals,
the Combat Medical Badge, the Flight Surgeon Badge, the Army
Parachutist Badge, the Army Air Assault Badge, and the German Armed
Forces Proficiency Badge in Gold. She is a member of the Order of
Military Medical Merit and the Order of Saint Christopher and is a Fellow
of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of
Family Practice.