The new Defense Health Agency director pinned on her third star during a ceremony at Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Virginia, on Jan. 20, 2023.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland took the DHA directorship reins on Jan. 3, 2023.

The agency’s fourth director chose her friend, mentor, and former boss U.S. Army Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, the current Army Surgeon General, to host the ceremony. Former U.S. Army Surgeon General retired Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West also attended.

"General West was the first African American female from West Point to make the rank of three stars. Today, you're getting ready to see the second with Telita Crosland," said Dingle.

Dingle presented Crosland with her certificate of promotion to lieutenant general and administered Crosland’s oath of office. He then performed a moving reading of “Mother to Son” by the poet Langston Hughes.

“She strives for excellence and to do things perfect and right. Not by herself but as a team leader, as a member leading the team, and as a member who’s not afraid to get in the boat and to row, just like the other teammates, to work tough wicked problems. She made my job easy there. She made it easy,” said Dingle.

“She serves as an example for all of us of how to keep climbing through the storms, through the blizzards, through the Cat. 5 hurricanes that life will through at you,” Dingle also said.

Crosland was joined by several family members, including her son, Jackson.