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Vol. 32, No. 6

March 20, 2015

Brain Health Under the Microscope in March RAMIN A. KHALILI

USAMRMC CCCRP KNOWLEDGE MANAGER

After 10 minutes of sifting through the files on her computer, Dr. Tamara Crowder threw up her hands in mock frustration.

“There’s just so much going on,” she said. “The stuff we’re doing with traumatic brain injury right now - there’s just so much.”

Crowder, the Neurotrauma and Traumatic Brain Injury portfolio manager with the Combat Casualty Care Research Program, explained that a recent spike in brain health awareness by both the federal government and the general public has led to an increase in scholarly research within her field.

“This is what people are talking about,” said Crowder, regarding the visibility boost such efforts have received during this year’s National Brain Injury Awareness Month, observed annually in March.

A recent study by the Defense Health Agency showed that deaths caused by hemorrhage dropped more than 11 percent over the past decade, while deaths caused

by TBI increased slightly. Further, government statistics show that head injuries trail only incidents of hemorrhage as the leading cause of death on the battlefield.

According to Crowder, current hot topics in her portfolio include blast-related TBI (“the problem is that people aren’t recovering fast enough”) and sub-

concussive events (“like, for instance, when a child hits a soccer ball with their head consistently over time”). However, she points to other, more in-depth efforts as being more integral to the future of brain health research.

The recently-completed Progressive Return to Action study ultimately allowed for the creation of a series of clinical recommendations intended to provide a more gradual, progressive return to military activity following an incident of TBI. The PRA’s codified daily medical assessments were initiated, in part, due to the various and unknown effects of brain injury.

“It’s not like breaking your arm,” said Crowder of the reason-

ing behind the study and its accompanying recommendations.

“You [can] get hit in different parts of the brain, so it’s hard to tell what that impact does - and what it means for the long term.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing $17 million TBI Endpoints Development study integrates the existing data sets from thousands of TBI patients into a singular “Metadataset” that will be analyzed to identify effective clinical outcome assessments and biomarkers for TBI. “This is the time to be talking about TBI,” added Crowder, again, before rifling through yet another file on her computer.

According to the Defense Centers of Excellence, nearly 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury every year in America.

Photo courtesy of DCOE

USAMRMC Participates in Capitol Hill Event to Increase Brain Injury Awareness

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command participates in the 14th annual Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, March 18. The event is organized by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force and the Brain Injury Association of America.

Representatives from the USAMRMC were part of an Awareness Fair in the 1st floor foyer of the Rayburn Building, in which more than 50 organizations were present. Col. Dallas Hack, senior medical advisor to the principal assistant for research and technology; Lt. Col. Chessley Atchison, program manager, science and technology objective: brain in combat; Dr. Tammy Crowder, neurotrauma program manager with the USAMRMC’s Combat Casualty Care Research Program; and Ana Gamero, science and congressional advisor, were on hand to speak with representatives from Congress and industry in support of brain injury awareness.

Photos by Chelsea Bauckman, USAMRMC Public Affairs

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What’s Inside

A Week in the Life of a GEMS Student, p. 4

Army Researchers Return to Norway for Nutrition, p. 5

NMLC’s DFA, Promoted to Lieutenant Commander, p. 6

USAMRMC Decision Gate Awards Spotlight Acquisition Excellence HEATHER MCDOWELL DUONG USAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Members of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command honored staff that played a key role helping the Army and the Department of Defense meet its medical materiel needs at the command’s annual Decision Gate ceremony at Fort Detrick, Maryland, March 4.

Army medicine is charged with getting the right products to the field faster and cost effectively. To do this, the USAMRMC developed an acquisition process, called Decision Gate, which combines industry best practices with Department of Defense acquisition protocols.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kenneth Bertram, the Principal Assistant for Acquisition, discussed how, in a climate of budget constraints, organizations are being called upon to defend programs. He said that the USAMRMC’s Decision Gate process was not “just another paperwork drill.” Bertram explained that the process validates the command’s development efforts, which in turn enables program evaluators to focus on the value of products as opposed to exerting time and resources ensuring a product works.

“We’re better off at the finish line,” said Principal Assistant for Research and Technology Dr. John Frazier Glenn of team efforts. “The Decision Gate process leverages and harnesses our power to guide our work forward.”

Bertram and Glenn presented awards to winners in the following eight categories: - Andy Atkinson, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity - IPT Chair of the Year

Principal Assistant for Acquisition Dr. Kenneth Bertram (left) and Principal Assistant for Research and Technology Dr. John Frazier Glenn (right) honor Decision Gate awardees at a ceremony March 4 at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The USAMRMC developed its acquisition process, Decision Gate, to get the right products to the field faster and cost effectively.

Photo by Heather McDowell Duong, USAMRMC Public Affairs

- Kevin Comegys and Matthew Teel, U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity - IPT Members of the Year - Maj. Vanessa Melanson, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - Best Brief of the Year - Steven Hawbecker, U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity - Product Lifecycle Review Committee Chair of the Year - Diane Ullman and Kathy Berst, USAMMDA - Decision Gate Advocate of the Year - Leishmania Rapid Diagnostic Device Integrated Project Team, IPT of the Year - Junctional Hemorrhage Control Agent IPT - Rook-

Potential Scam Targeting Federal Employees The Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service has released a newsflash regarding a potential scam by a benefits and retirement planning company: Government Employee Services. The scam intends to use misinformation, as well as fear, about the Affordable Care Act and its impact on the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program to influence Federal employees to buy their services.

For more information regarding the potential scam, read the full newsflash at: https://www.abc.army.mil/misc/newsflash_qa.pdf.

You should always beware of calls, mailings or emails seeking to “help” you with your Federal benefits. If you receive correspondence like this, contact your Civilian Personnel Advisory Center if you are not sure whether or not the correspondence came from your Agency.

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The STANDARD is an authorized unofficial newspaper, published every two weeks under the provisions of AR 360-1 for the military and civilians at Fort Detrick. Circulation is 7,000. The STANDARD is a commercial enterprise newspaper printed by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., 20877, a private firm, in no way connected with the United States Government or Department of Defense. The contents of the STANDARD do not necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorse-

ie IPT of the Year - Plans, Programs, Analysis and Evaluation’s Small Business Innovation Research Office - Best Staff Support The USAMRMC’s Decision Gate process leverages multifunctional teams at each phase of research and development to plan, execute and review USAMRMC product development efforts. The method is designed to identify problems and risks early in the product development cycle, when they are most easily solved. The Director, Plans, Programs, Analysis and Evaluation executes the Decision Gate for the USAMRMC.

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ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron.

Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort Detrick Public Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md. 21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004, telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: usarmy.detrick.usag.mbx. pao@mail.mil.

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Fort Detrick Standard March 20, 2015

Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

Command Staff Maj. Gen. Brian C. Lein

Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick

Col. Steven P. Middlecamp U.S. Army Garrison Commander

Editorial Staff

Melissa Myers USAMRMC/Fort Detrick PAO

Recognizing Cyber Security Awareness 24/7 SHANNON BISHOP

USAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Though National Cyber Security Awareness month is officially recognized in October, it is a topic that is relevant to the Fort Detrick community 24/7.

The National Cyber Security Alliance shares on its official page that cyber security is about ensuring that “every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online.” For the Fort Detrick community, cyber security means taking the necessary measures to ensure national security interests as well as protect personally identifiable information.

As the weather gets warmer, we all spend more time outdoors. Anytime you leave your work station, it is important to remember to follow all security practices that are currently in place, including removing your common access card anytime you leave your desk, even for a minute, and not

having your CAC cards visible when off post.

“I think that individual users are the first line of defense for cyber security,” said Brent Hunter, chief of the Information Assurance Division at the Network Enterprise Center. “We have an annual requirement to take Cyber Security Awareness training in order to gain and keep access to the network.

The training is designed to provide users with basic cyber security principles. Users have to be aware of, and practice, these principles on a daily basis to help protect the Army network.”

Additional security practices include: -Never leave classified information or classified computers/equipment/hardware unattended, unless it is located in a formally approved Open Storage Area.

-Do not use your Communications Closets as storage areas.

-Ensure you are following your unit’s Security Standard Operating Pro-

cedures, particularly those involving end-of-duty day checks.

-Know who your security manager and information assurance support officer are.

-We recommend that you log onto your secure network multiple times per week to keep your security patches up to date.

-Never open an email attachment from unknown/ unverified senders.

-Protect all sensitive and PII by encrypting e-mail and files.

Hunter continued, “Users should be aware of who their information assurance support officer/security manager is for their organization and what the organizations incident response plan is. This information is critical if users suspect their systems have been compromised or if they see something that looks suspicious.”

For more information about cyber security, visit http://www.arcyber.army. mil/cyber-awareness.html.

Spring Research Festival Judges Needed!

The National Interagency Confederation for Biological Research Spring Research Festival is requesting members of the community to sign up as a poster judge. When you share your time in venues, such as the Spring Research Festival, it promotes collaboration among established scientists and sets a standard for our young researchers to emulate.

A large part of the festival revolves around poster presentation. We encourage all individuals, including technical staff, postdoctoral fellows, staff scientists and senior staff to participate as judges.

At this time, we expect the poster

numbers to be >100 and it is our goal to have every poster evaluated by two judges.

Please visit the SRF website and click on “judging”. There you will find more detailed information along with the score sheet to be used.

Please register to be a judge at: https://ncifrederick.cancer.gov/ Events/Srf/JudgingCriteria.aspx.

Note: You will need a username and password to enter this site. Please create a log-in if you do not already have one. If you are encountering technical difficulties, please contact C&SS at (301) 846-5115 and someone will help you.

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com

Who Was the Ireland Trail Named After?

NICK MINECCI

USAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Major Gen. Merritte W. Ireland was born on May 31, 1867, in Columbia City, Indiana. Ireland graduated from Detroit College of Medicine in 1890 with a Doctor of Medicine degree, then later attended Jefferson Medical College where again he was given a second Doctor of Medicine degree in 1891. He then joined the U.S. Army with a distinguished four decade career that would see him become the 23rd Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, a post he would hold for 13 years.

After years of moving around to places like Fort Apache, Arizona; Fort Stanton, New Mexico; Benicia Barracks, California; and Yosemite National Park in Yosemite Village, California; Ireland was ordered to the Presidio of San Francisco in January of 1898, where he was stationed during the outbreak of the SpanishAmerican War. While Ireland was serving on the southern border U.S. troops were gathering along the Rio Grande and the Punitive Expedition into Mexico, led by Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing, launched. When a state of war was declared

with Germany on April 6, 1917, Pershing assembled his staff for the high command in France and chose Ireland for the post of chief surgeon; however, The Surgeon General selected Col. Alfred E. Bradley for the position instead. Ireland sailed with General Pershing for France as first assistant to Bradley and served in that capacity until Pershing later was compelled to give up his office in April 1918 on account of ill health; promoting Ireland to chief surgeon. As assistant and head of the service in the American Expeditionary Force his administrative and professional abilities won the Pershing’s highest praise.

Ireland was appointed Surgeon General with the grade of major general on Oct. 4, 1918. Ireland arrived in New York on Oct. 28, taking the oath of office on Oct. 30.

Ireland spent a great deal of time replacing the temporary wartime medical facilities with permanent hospital structures; both the Walter Reed and Letterman General Hospitals were rebuilt and completed. The William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas, was built and put into operation July 1, 1921. The development of the Army Medical Center was another

Photo courtesy of National Archives

notable achievement of this period. A further development was the creation on May 15, 1920, of the Medical Field Service School at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, where officers and enlisted men were instructed in medico-military matters, administration, tactics, field sanitation, work with field units, map-making, equitation, motor mechanism and kindred topics. The third tropical disease board was established in Manila in the spring of 1922.

Ireland earned the total confidence of the General Staff and of the military committees of the Senate and House, and reappointed as The Surgeon General on Oct. 30, 1922, again on Oct. 30, 1926, and finally on Oct. 30, 1930, until he retired on May 31, 1931, by reason of reaching the statutory age.

Device to Measure Brain’s Electrical Activity After Injury Receives FDA Clearance RAMIN A. KHALILI

USAMRMC CCCRP KNOWLEDGE MANAGER

When describing a new device designed to measure the brain’s electrical activity after injury, Col. Dallas Hack cut through all the details to get straight to the point of why the Army needed another tool in its arsenal.

“It addresses the ‘gap area’ of non-invasive tests for brain injury,” said Hack.

Hack, the Brain Health/

Fitness Research Program coordinator for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, explained that when Soldiers fall in training or endure a blast on the battlefield, their injuries are not always visible. However, clinicians have historically had few objective ways to test for brain injury, especially non-invasive testing that provides objective results.

Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

The Ahead 100, which received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2014, is a headband-shaped device that measures a patient’s electroencephalogram signals, or brain electrical activity. A clinician interprets the testing and results.

“The original concept was simple,” said Michael Singer, the president and CEO of BrainScope Com-

See MEASURE, continued on page 7 Fort Detrick Standard March 20, 2015

3

Sergeant First Class Receives Master Sergeant Promotion LISA MORRIS

USAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Master Sgt. Melvin D. Milton reenlisted in the U.S. Army at a ceremony March 13 where he received a promotion from sergeant first class.

Milton, from San Diego, California, has served in the Army for 15 years. He began his career as a combat medic at Fort Benning, Georgia, with the 3rd Infantry Division. Having had the opportunities to serve in both field and nonfield environments throughout the course of his career, Milton has proven himself as a versatile Soldier.

Currently serving as the operations non-commissioned officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Milton attributes a large part of his success to his Soldiers.

“I’m humbled by this promotion. Promotions are good for the potential, but you don’t ever get here alone, so you always have to give thanks to the Soldiers who do a lot of the work for you and to your mentors,” said Milton. “A promotion is for you, but it’s more of a team effort.”

Milton prefers to serve in combat settings despite their challenges because they offer him a level of discipline not found in other situations.

His most rewarding experiences to date involve the lives of his Soldiers.

“It’s most fulfilling for me to see my Soldiers succeed, get promoted, have healthy families - to see them getting degrees and just setting them up for the future,” said Milton.

Milton, his wife and their three children approach the two-year mark at Fort Detrick.

Master Sgt. Melvin D. Milton, with his wife Nitikka, reenlists in the U.S. Army with Lt. Col. Paul J. Davis prior to pinning on the rank of master sergeant.

Photo by Nick Minecci, USAG Public Affairs

A Week in the Life of a GEMS Student LISA MORRIS

USAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Applications for the 2015 Fort Detrick Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science program have opened to students for the 10th year.

As a summer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics enrichment program, GEMS creates hands-on opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students as well as college students and teachers.

Students in grades four through 12 may apply for any one of the six weeks with seven classes to choose from for the Fort Detrick program.

“The focus of the GEMS program is to touch on all of the STEM categories and to get students excited about STEM and to ignite a passion to find out more,” said Lauren Beeson, educational consultant and program coordinator for Fort Detrick’s GEMS program.

Last year, the Fort Detrick GEMS program accepted 500 out of 1,000 applicants. This year, the program will accept approximately 525 students.

“Application selection is competitive,” said Beeson. “It’s not based on previous attendance or how early you apply. We’re looking for originality and genuine interest.”

So, what is a week in the life of a typical GEMS student like? Continue reading for a snapshot of the creative and experimental summers Fort Detrick GEMS students experience.

The Fort Detrick GEMS program requires a significant amount of cooperation and coordination from many different groups. The program’s success depends on many roles, including subject matter expert volunteers of Soldiers, civilians and contractors to spend time with the students in a variety of ways, from having lunch with

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Fort Detrick Standard March 20, 2015

A Fort Detrick Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science program intermediate student measures water with a graduated cylinder to perform a serial dilution.

Photo courtesy of Fort Detrick GEMS program

them to talk about their passion for STEM and their careers to assisting the near-peer mentors with advanced concepts and training.

“Every year brings something new and exciting,” said Beeson.

“We always get students who have never done it before and others who return to do a new class. No matter if new or returning, the joy and enthusiasm on their faces are exactly the same. They’re just excited to be there.”

To apply as a student for the Fort Detrick GEMS program, visit www. usaeop.com/apply, click the “Fort Detrick, MD (MRMC-HQ)” link and click “Apply.” Applications will remain open until April 15.

To apply as a subject matter expert for the Fort Detrick GEMS program, visit http://stem.amedd. army.mil/index.cfm/opportunities/volunteer to fill out a volunteer form.

CLASS: INTERMEDIATE, SEVENTH GRADE Day 1 Students arrive in the morning at Hood College, host location for the Fort Detrick GEMS program. They meet all resource teachers and near-peer mentors and receive lab safety instructions along with daily schedules.

After the preliminary morning congregation, students go to their appropriate classrooms with their near-peer mentors and begin with an icebreaker.

Then, they jump right into the first activity of collecting insects and learning how to use a dichotomous key to identify and classify them.

In the afternoon, students receive an introduction to Newton’s laws of motion as they circulate through different lab stations including activities, such as blowing up balloons while changing the angle of air flow; racing cars on different level ramp heights and comparing the distance the cars travel; and performing the “tablecloth trick,” in which they test pulling a tablecloth out from under objects of different weights without disturbing them.

Day 2 Students listen to a career speaker in the morning. The Fort Detrick GEMS program provides a variety of career speakers throughout the program. In the past, representatives from

the following various agencies have volunteered their time: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Army Center of Environmental Health Research and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center.

After returning to their classrooms, students extract DNA from the insects they collected the day before. They learn several lab skills, including gram staining, pipette skills, sterile technique and swabbing for bacteria that is grown overnight.

In the afternoon, students begin building custom rockets, keeping in mind the principles they learned from Newton’s laws. By the end of the day, they submit their rocket designs to their near-peer mentors.

Day 3 After listening to a second career speaker in the morning, students return to their classrooms and amplify the extracted DNA of the insects using a Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Students continue building their rockets in the afternoon.

They paint, install motors and develop team and rocket names.

Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

They learn how to determine the apogee, or highest point, of several objects as practice for their calculations during their upcoming rocket launches.

Day 4 Students go straight to their classrooms on the final day.

They run the DNA they amplified the day before out on a gel to determine if any of their insects have the Wolbachia bacteria, a common parasite that infects a high proportion of insects. If students do find a positive sample, they get to send the sample to the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to include in the MBL’s national study that tracks how the bacteria infects its hosts and where the infection occurs throughout the U.S. Students also launch their rockets from the courtyard of Hood College and collect data from the launches.

Finally, students participate in a graduation ceremony at which they receive certificates of completion, a guest speaker, a video presentation and an educational stipend of $100 for the week.

At the end of the graduation ceremony, program leaders invite everyone to visit the classrooms and see some of the projects the students work on throughout the week.

Army Researchers Return to Norway for Nutrition, Cold-Stress Study in Arctic Extremes KELLY FIELD

USARIEM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine once again partnered with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment to study nutrition and physiological responses to cold-weather training.

For the second time in three years, researchers from the USARIEM traveled to Norway to study Norwegian Soldiers participating in cold-weather training. About 75 Norwegian Soldiers, from the 2nd Battalion, Brigade North, Norwegian Army, stationed on Skjold Garrison enrolled in this randomized controlled trial.

“The results of our last study showed that short-term winter training alters nutritional requirements,” said Dr. Stefan Pasiakos, a nutritional physiologist with the USARIEM’s Military Nutrition Division. “We observed decrements in several markers of nutritional status, including protein retention, suggesting muscle mass is compromised during short-term military training in the cold.”

Pasiakos said this gave researchers the information they needed to design a targeted nutrition intervention to attenuate those effects in Soldiers participating in a similar winter training program. The research team expected to produce physiological decrements that mirrored those observed in their last study.

“Our primary objective was to determine the efficacy of an optimized recovery food product designed for combat rations,” said Pasiakos. “We were trying to identify ways to effectively use nutrition to promote recovery and resistance to muscle loss during military operational stress.”

For the second time in three years, researchers from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine partner with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment to study nutrition and physiological responses to coldweather training.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Pasiakos said that often times Soldiers can experience severe calorie decrements during training because they either quickly strip down rations and remove food with nutritional value because they do not want to carry the extra weight, or they simply do not have the time to eat all the food they are given. For example, Soldiers threw away about a third of their food rations, causing a severe calorie deficit throughout training during Pasiakos’ previous study in Norway.

Researchers divided the Soldiers into three intervention groups, aimed at testing whether supplementing existing rations with a protein or carbohydrate-based snack product would improve these various markers of nutritional status. The USARIEM partnered with the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Combat Feeding Directorate to develop and

create nearly 5,000 snack products for use in this study.

“The groups were each given their standard combat ration allotment for their training exercise. One group served as the control and received no additional food,” said Pasiakos. “The other groups received their three rations plus four either carbohydrate or protein-based snacks, like a First Strike Ration bar or a crispy rice bar.

“By providing easily accessible snacks, we were trying to see to what extent we could actually offset the physiological decrements that occur during severe calorie deficit. If we are able to develop a food product that Soldiers like to eat and also promotes recovery, this would allow us to make some positive changes to our combat rations,” said Pasiakos.

USARIEM researchers also examined the

risk of frostbite on peripheral areas such as the fingers, wrists, calves and toes. Dr. John Castellani, a research physiologist with the USARIEM’s Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, said these areas are the most susceptible to frostbite, but they are the least understood.

“Currently, we have limited information on finger and toe skin temperatures in the field or in an operational setting,” said Castellani. “The information that we collected is important because it will allow us to build biophysical models that will enable Soldiers to choose the correct cold-weather clothing ensembles as well as evaluate if the Army’s cold-weather doctrine for injury prevention is accurate.”

“This study will enable the USARIEM to provide Soldiers with practical solutions in extreme environmental temperatures so that they continue to perform their mission with a low risk of cold injury,” said Castellani.

Both Pasiakos and Castellani said these types of field studies are extremely important for them as scientists because they provide a level of reality that cannot be re-created in the laboratory. While the information collected during this trip is just beginning to be analyzed, USARIEM researchers are excited for the results.

“Typically, field studies give us the most realistic model to test our hypotheses. When military units provide us the opportunity to conduct a study, our mission is to execute strong science without being disruptive to their operations,” said Pasiakos. “The USARIEM has a long history of doing just that and, most importantly, it gives us the operationally relevant evidence we need to improve science and, ultimately, Warfighter health and performance.”

Retired Army Surgeon Joins NMHM to Mark 50th Anniversary of Vietnam War PAUL BELLO

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE

A glimpse into Vietnam War medicine and the creation of the “Medical Museum, 2nd Surgical Hospital” was provided Feb. 24 to attendees at the February 2015 Medical Museum Science Café at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Dr. Norman Rich, a retired U.S. Army surgeon and the program’s guest speaker, established the traveling medical museum while serving as chief of surgery at the hospital in An Khe, Vietnam.

During his tour of duty, which began at the mobile Army hospital in 1965, Rich collected items such as punji sticks (a type of wooden stake made of sharpened bamboo), bullets, fragments from explosive devices and other objects from patients he treated, as well as from fellow colleagues in the field. He later donated many of these items to the NMHM, which at that time was part of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and under the direction of Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Blumberg in Washington, District of Columbia. Many of these items were showcased by NMHM staff during and after Rich’s discussion.

“I was encouraged by my mentors to do something unusual, as some had put it.

Based on that advice, I came up with the idea for my own medical museum,” he said.

“There are many opportunities out there if you seize upon them. Fortunately for me, there was an abundance of opportunities that came my way during that period.”

Rich provided a slide presentation that included viewpoints American Soldiers

had while navigating through the jungles of Vietnam. He also showed pictures of various weapons and the wounds he treated while in his Quonset hut operating room. Due to being in such a remote location and emergency evacuation being so difficult, Rich estimated that more than two-thirds of the patients he operated on were held there and eventually went back to duty in country.

He also shared an interesting, yet slightly harrowing story about the time he got back from Vietnam and was asked to give a lecture at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 1968. Just as he was about to address the audience, Rich recalls being surrounded by several men. They pulled him off-stage and told him he was in a lot of trouble.

“They told me they were still deciding amongst themselves whether I should be court martialed, shot or sent far away somewhere,” he said. “Turns out, they were with the CIA, CID and FBI. They were after me for the items I sent to the museum from Vietnam.”

As it turns out, the weapons and artifacts Rich had boxed up and flown out somehow ended up at McChord Air Force Base in Washington without his knowledge.

The boxes sat there for about a year before someone finally decided to send them to Rich, but not before alerting authorities that they were going over state lines.

“The charges they initially had against me were phenomenal. What saved me in the end was that I was very thorough and had catalogued everything that was given to me while at the hospital,” said Rich. “I also had a signed letter from AFIP stating their desire for the items. I’m not sure what would have

Dr. Norman M. Rich, a retired Army colonel and renowned vascular surgeon, speaks about his experiences during the Vietnam War on Feb. 24 at the Medical Museum Science Café, held at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Maryland.

(Disclosure: Portions of this image have been masked to protect PII. This image has been cropped to emphasize the subject.)

Photo by Paul Bello, National Museum of Health and Medicine

happened to me without it.”

Rich, who grew up in a small Arizona copper mining town, later became chief of vascular surgery at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Surgical Research. He was also appointed professor of surgery for the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1976. He became department chairman a year later and remained in that position until his retirement in 2002.

Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

“Every time we go to war, we have to start all over again,” said Rich. “One of the things we’re trying to do at the Uniformed Services University is to prepare people to be more ready for the management of patients. That priority will never change.”

Earlier in the evening, a small group of Vietnam War veterans attending the program, including Rich, were acknowledged by the Department of Defense’s Vietnam War Commemoration Committee for service to their country. Each was awarded a merit pin following a video presentation that included a message of thanks from President Barack Obama.

“We’ve had so many items come into our museum related to Vietnam that we wanted to offer a program in conjunction with the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration that’s part of a larger nationwide initiative to educate the public about those who served and what we learned from that experience, particularly as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War,” said Andrea Schierkolk, public program manager for the NMHM. The NMHM’s Medical Museum Science Cafés are a regular series of informal talks that connect the mission of the DOD museum with the public. The NMHM was founded as the Army Medical Museum in 1862 and moved to its new location in Silver Spring, Maryland, in 2012. For more information on the program, call (301) 319-3300 or visit www.medicalmuseum.mil.

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DeShazo Reports as NMLC’s DFA, Promoted to Lieutenant Commander JULIUS L. EVANS

NMLC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

In two separate events, the Naval Medical Logistics Command on Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, welcomed its new director for administration and then on March 1, promoted him to lieutenant commander.

Lt. Matthew DeShazo reported for duty in February 2015.

As the director for administration, his responsibilities include managing a staff of administrative professionals who coordinate all command correspondence, maintain and track all official documentation through both internal and external channels and manage the workflow of all administrative tasks assigned to the NMLC. Shortly after reporting to the NMLC, DeShazo achieved a significant milestone in a naval officer’s career when he was promoted to lieutenant commander. This rank is the Navy’s first commissioned officer rank, in the promotion structure, selected by peers.

“I am happy to preside over today’s ceremony. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Lt. Cmdr. DeShazo because this is the first time his service record was reviewed by a board of his peers. He was selected among a certain number of people who were chosen to be promoted,” said Capt. Mary S. Seymour, NMLC’s commanding officer. “During the short time he has been here, it is evident why he was selected. He is highly motivated and has hit the ground running in full gear. He is a welcome member of our family and we are happy he is here.”

DeShazo is a native of western Maryland, having graduated from Frederick High School. He then graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and began his career in the private sector health care market. During his 11 years of private and public

healthcare management experience, DeShazo gained significant managed-care leadership experience working with the renowned medical systems of Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland.

In December 2005, he completed a master’s degree in Health Systems Management from the University of Baltimore. In September 2006, he was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps through the Direct Accession Program. He went on to complete tours of duty at several other commands and then, while serving at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, DeShazo was accepted in the U.S. Naval War College, College of Distance Learning Program leading to his completion of a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

During his ceremony, he thanked members from his previous command that traveled from Pennsylvania and Maryland in recognition of his promotion.

“If it weren’t for you, your work ethic and your professionalism, I would not be standing here today,” said DeShazo, directing his comments to his fellow recruiters. “You were the keys in making my recruiting tour successful. You were my ‘dream team,’ and I want to thank you for making me shine during the critical performance evaluation periods leading up to my peer review board in the spring of 2014.”

While at Navy Recruiting District Philadelphia, he served as both a Division Officer for enlisted recruiting production and as the Medical Service Corps Medical Program director. DeShazo was recognized for his outstanding leadership in December 2013 and again in December 2014, as NRD Philadelphia’s Division Officer of the Year. His recruiting division was selected as the NRD Philadelphia FY14 Division of the Year. He departed recruiting duty with the Navy Recruiting Ribbon and 11 Gold Wreath production awards.

Capt. Mary Seymour recites the Navy officer promotion oath of office to Lt. Matthew DeShazo as he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

Photo by Julius Evans, NMLC Public Affairs

He then thanked his wife and daughter who stood by as sons Jackson 11, and Blake 7, pinned on their dad’s new collar device to the delight of the audience. Then, addressing the audience, DeShazo recognized Master Chief Hospital Corpsman David Hall, who was his “Sea daddy” at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda during his first tour in the Navy.

“As a senior chief, he helped me start my career as a junior officer. At Officer Development School, they told us to ‘find the chief’ for guidance when you report to your first duty station. Senior Chief Hall was one of the chiefs that taught me what it meant to be an officer in the Navy.”

Newcomers Welcomed at Fort Detrick LANESSA HILL

USAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Army Community Services hosted a Newcomers Orientation on Tuesday, March 17, in the Community Activities Center at Fort Detrick. This week’s event had a new feel, a new agenda and a lot of enthusiasm as current employees welcomed new employees, Soldiers and their families.

As many as 56 active duty service members, civilians and children from Fort Detrick, Forest Glen Annex and Raven Rock attended the orientation, which was opened by Col. Perry Clark and U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Jessup.

Fort Detrick is a “unique installation that is unlike no other,” said Clark during his welcoming remarks. He welcomed everyone to Frederick, Maryland; mentioning how he himself grew up not too far from Frederick in western Maryland, where his parents still live to this day.

“My parents are in western Maryland and I can tell you it gets cold here. For those of you coming from warm climates, get ready. But, I really think we have seen the last snow and this really is a great place,” said Clark.

One attendee commented how nice it was to see command staff present at something like this and how he has never been to a place where the command sergeant major has been so animated and welcoming.

This year, a new component was added to the orientation; a narrated bus tour of the installation and around Frederick. Highlights included Whittier Elementary, the feeder elementary school for Fort Detrick children, Baker Park, Market Street, Francis Scott Key Mall, the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles and a stop at the Frederick County visitor’s center.

Staff at the visitors center greeted two bus-loads of people with goodie bags packed with information and brochures on what Frederick County has to offer visitors and its citizens. This stop also included Frederick’s state of the art

theater, featuring its award-winning multi-screen orientation film, “A Turn of the Wheel.”

According to Liz Dague, relocation program manager in Army Community Services, attendee feedback on this new addition to the orientation was positive.

“The majority enjoyed the tour and could relax and focus on the points of interest without worrying about getting lost,” said Dague. “They also pointed out that this format, where there was lots of interaction, was much more enjoyable.”

See WELCOME, continued on page 7

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Spc. Domingo Lugo and Pfc. Jacob Allen, both of 114 Signal Battalion, pick up information relevant to services and programs provided at Fort Detrick during the first newcomers orientation of 2015.

Photo by Lanessa Hill, USAG Public Affairs

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Fort Detrick Standard March 20, 2015

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Our Services Include:

Cleanings & Examinations • Cosmetic Dentistry • Crowns & Bridges Dental Bonding • Dental Implants • Dentures & Partials Emergency Dental Care • Family Dentistry • Pediatric Dentistry Periodontal Disease Prevention & Treatment Porcelain Veneers • Root Canal Therapy • Six Month Smiles Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment • Smile Makeovers Teeth Whitening • TMI and Bruxism Therapy • Tooth-Colored Fillings

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Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

The Ahead 100 headpiece fits around a mannequin as the corresponding handheld portion of the device sits nearby.

Photo courtesy of BrainScope Company, Inc. MEASURE, continued from page 3

pany, Inc., the neurotechnology firm that created the Ahead 100 via funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. “We wanted to put something into your hand that allowed you to use an EEG, and use it rapidly.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBI-related emergency room visits by men have jumped by more than 50 percent in the past 10 years

WELCOME, continued from page 6

The morning ended where it all began, at the Community Activities Center. This time, experts were available to answer questions and provide information regarding programs and services available here at Fort Detrick.

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alone. Visits by women hover near the same mark throughout the same time period.

The Ahead 100 is intended for use within 24 hours on patients who have sustained a closed-head injury and show signs of traumatic brain injury.

Hack added, “long-term benefits include the expansion to milder concussion indications, which will be valuable to a clinician in recommending a treatment plan.”

The newcomer’s orientation is a monthly event and required per Army regulation for active duty. The next orientation is schedule for April 15. To register for any of the upcoming sessions, visit https://installation.detrick.army.mil/newcomers/index. cfm or call Army Community Services at (301) 619-2197.

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Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

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Fort Detrick Standard March 20, 2015

Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development