It is a high honor and distinct privilege to take over the role of ASD(HA) from the capable hands of Dr. Rice. He has been masterful at the helm, bringing his unique civility and expertise to this important role. While hoping for a quick approval of a permanent ASD(HA), I will dedicate every day to those warriors in harm's way, to those serving this nation in the active, reserve, and guard forces, to our honored retirees, and, as importantly, to their families who provide the core resiliency needed for a nation at war.
Like many of you, I have endured loss. As a flight surgeon, I lost my share of close friends in violent ways. As a young major, I spent a rainy night in a field, searching for and finding the remains of a close squadron mate who crashed in his F-16. Then I had to help console his wife when I had to tell her that he was not returning from that mission. Sadly, like many of you, this was not my only experience...
To those warriors who are ill and injured, I remain dedicated to providing the most advanced health care possible in a compassionate and professional manner, anywhere, any time. For those who are in the field, know that you have the finest medical combat support system ever fielded, one that is constantly learning and improving.
To those who are supporting today's global mission, you and your families deserve ready access to a high-quality health care delivery system that is as seamless as possible. We have access standards which have been established for over ten years for those in TRICARE Prime. We have promised to offer an appointment in a military treatment facility or arrange for one with our civilian partners as follows: one day for urgent care, one week for routine care, and one month for wellness and referral care. I ask you to hold us accountable for this.
To the Health Affairs and TMA Teams, our obligations are many. There are, literally, millions of Americans who rely on us to provide the leadership, policy, and programmatics that ensure their health, safety and well-being.
The decisions made have global implications to a worldwide military force.
We are the facilitators of health services, the ones who get to "yes," not the ones who say "no." Secretary Gates has set clear expectations -- all of us entrusted to work in the Office of the Secretary must rethink how we are organized to accomplish our work; how we can be more agile in meeting the needs of our colleagues in the field; and how we can be more efficient with the resources the American people provide us. I will be working with you in the coming weeks and months to engage in a disciplined review of how we can best meet accomplish our mission.
To the medics throughout the world, each of you are well trained, talented, and living every day at the front...combating injury, illness, and death...I salute you. I will do everything in my power to give you the tools to perform your duties: the funding, the facilities, the staff, the knowledge, and the skills to remain the most creative, capable, adaptive, and caring health care organization on this planet.
While I have spent the core of my professional career in military medicine, I remain humble in the knowledge that there is still much for me to learn from all of you. This is a complex enterprise, and we are fortunate to have experts in every field of medical study available for consultation. Teach me, and know every day I am proud to work for you.