Assistant Director for Support (acting) and Chief Nursing Officer

Brig. Gen. Katherine A. Simonson is the acting Assistant Director for Support, and Chief Nursing Officer, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia. Simonson joined DHA in January 2021. Immediately prior to this assignment, she served as the Deputy Assistant Director, Research & Engineering Directorate, and prior to that, Commander, 2nd Medical Training Brigade under the Medical Readiness and Training Command (MRTC) after completing an operational tour as the Deputy Commander, Task Force Med, 8th Medical Brigade, in Qatar

A native of Brooklyn and Elmira New York, Simonson is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Canisius College, Buffalo, New York. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Masters of Nursing from the University of Washington, Seattle. She was commissioned into the Regular Army in 1990.

Simonson began active service at the 97th General Hospital in Frankfurt and 51st Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in Germany, where she was assigned to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Upon return from Germany, she served at Madigan Army Medical Center as an ICU nurse from 1994-1998. In 1998, Simonson transitioned to the reserve and served at the 6250th US Army Hospital as Chief Nursing Officer, ICU unit and section. Attached to the 104th Training Division from 1999-2001, Simonson served as the Director of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Critical Care Nurse Course. Her other assignments at the 6250th included Chief, Critical Care Department and Executive Officer. She mobilized 2003-2005 and 2009-2012 to Madigan Army Medical Center. Her assignments included: Deputy Director, US Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S) Critical Care Course; Section Chief, Medical Surgical Nursing; Section Chief, Nursing Administration, and Section Chief, Critical Care. Upon return to reserve service, Simonson assumed the dual role of Chief, Clinical Operations and Professional Services, 2nd Medical Training Brigade in San Pablo, CA. She commanded the 396th CSH from 2015 to 2018. Simonson deployed to Qatar from 2018 to 2019 as the Deputy Commander 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) Operational Command Post. Upon returning from deployment, she assumed command of the 2nd Medical Training Brigade in Salt Lake City.

Simonson is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Medical Management of Chemical Biologic Casualty Course, AMEDD Critical Care Nurse Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the Army War College.

Simonson’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon (2), Army Superior Unit Award, the Parachutist Badge and German Army Proficiency Badge. She was the 2001 Army Nurse Corps Award of Excellence winner and 2003 inductee into the Order of Military Medical Merit.