Standard 082214

Vol. 31, No. 17 August 22, 2014

Find Garrison on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr!www.facebook.com/DetrickUSAGwww.twitter.com/DetrickUSAGwww.flickr.com/DetrickUSAG

www.facebook.com/ForestGlenAnnexwww.twitter.com/ForestGlenAnnex

Find MRMC on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr too!www.facebook.com/USAMRMCwww.twitter.com/USAMRMC

www.flickr.com/people/usamrmc

Social Media What’s Inside

Researcher Discusses UnderseaMedicine, p. 3

Community to Take StepsAgainst West Nile Virus, p. 4

Fort Detrick Night at the Keys,p. 6

SHANNON BISHOPUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

After serving as the chief forChild, Youth and School Servicesfor the Installation ManagementCommand in San Antonio, Texas,Lisa Hamlin recently relocated toFort Detrick to serve as the newFamily and Morale, Welfare andRecreation director.

Hamlin describes the move toFort Detrick as a decision that hasbrought her back to doing whatshe loves most—working to pro-vide quality FMWR programs forSoldiers and family members.

“There are so many opportuni-ties here to further develop FMWRand I am excited about the possi-bilities. For me, it is about ensur-ing we offer FMWR programs thatour customers want and need,”Hamlin said.

Hamlin’s goals for Fort Detrickare already starting to come tofruition. In July, after being closedfor several months, Hamlin re-opened Café Too based on com-munity interest.

“We have received numerousInteractive Customer Evaluationcomments letting us know how ex-cited patrons are that the Café re-opened,” Hamlin said. “Right nowwe serve brewed coffee, but we areexpecting to have a barista serviceup and running in the near future.”

Hamlin also shared that the foottraffic in the café continues to in-crease. Café Too serves breakfast andlunch and is open from 7 a.m. to 1p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hamlin added that it is her in-tent to send out a survey to find outwhat FMWR activities Fort Detrickwould like to see implemented.

“Eligible patrons don’t real-ize all of the different servicesthat FMWR offers,” Hamlin said.“They can rent a boat, an air con-ditioned camper, cater an event or

even rent an inflatable for a party. Iwant to raise awareness in the FortDetrick community about all thatFMWR does.”

Hamlin’s professional back-ground includes experiences inprofit, non-profit and governmentorganizations. Hamlin served asthe commissioner of the NationalAssociation for the Education ofYoung Children from 1999-2002,during the reinvention of theNAEYC accreditation system.

“Most of my professional ex-periences have been in the fieldof Education and Early ChildhoodDevelopment. In my new positionas the director of FMWR, I feel veryfortunate to not only work withChild, Youth and School Servicesprograms, but to also work withArmy Community Services, Com-munity Recreation and the Com-munity Operations Programs.”

Hamlin, a Colorado native, hastraveled across the United States and

overseaswithher familyandthrough-out her career as an Army civilian.

“I spent my childhood in Hawaiiand as an adult I lived in Korea, Gre-nada,OregonandKansasCity,”Ham-lin said. “Although [I’ve travelleda lot]I think being on the East Coast is myfavorite place to live.”

After taking the position as thedirector of FMWR, Hamlin and herfamily purchased a home in NewMarket, Maryland.

“We’ve been camping out for awhile surrounded by boxes sinceour household goods have ar-rived,” Hamlin joked. “My two Si-berian Huskies are much happiernow that they are out of the SanAntonio heat.”

Hamlin is looking forward toworking with everyone at FortDetrick and is excited about hernew opportunity.

For more information aboutFMWR services, call (301) 619-2711.

New Director of FMWR Brings Enthusiasm to Current Programs

Lisa Hamlin is enthusiastic about developing new opportunitiesto further enrich the programs of the Fort Detrick FMWR.

Photo provided by Lisa Hamlin, FMWR

FMWR Director Lisa Hamlin enjoys spending time with her twosons and Siberian Huskies.


As the FMWR director, Lisa Hamlin works with Soldiers and theirfamily members to ensure programs are in line with the stan-dards set by the Department of the Army. Hamlin enjoys work-ing with children, as shown by her career experience with Child,Youth and School Services.


2 Fort Detrick StandardAugust 22, 2014 Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

Commentary:

Command StaffMaj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr.

Commanding general, U.S. Army Medical

Research and Materiel Command

and Fort Detrick

Col. Steven P. MiddlecampU.S. Army Garrison commander

Editorial StaffPAO Staff

The STANDARD is an authorized unofficial newspaper,published every two weeks under the provisions of AR360-1 for the military and civilians at Fort Detrick. Circula-tion is 7,000. The STANDARD is a commercial enterprisenewspaper printed by Comprint Military Publications, 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., 20877, a private firm,in no way connected with the United States Government orDepartment of Defense. The contents of the STANDARD donot necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement ofthe U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S.Army. The appearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorse-

ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shallbe made available for purchase, use or patronage withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or anyother nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron.Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort DetrickPublic Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md.21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004,telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: [email protected].

Display ad salesFrederick County 301-921-2800Montgomery County 301-921-2800Classified ads 1-888-670-7100

ext+. 2684Circulation 301-670-2591Editorial 301-619-3319Printed on recycled paperRecycle when finished

Visit our Web site at: www.detrick.army.mil

Provost Marshal Office (301) 619-2652

Fire and Emergency Services (301) 619-2528

Near Miss Hotline (301) 619-3164

USAG Network Enterprise Help Desk (301) 619-2049

Balfour Beatty (240) 379-6518

Directorate of Public Works Trouble Desk (301) 619-2726

Barquist Army Health Clinic (800) TRICARE

Post Operator (301) 619-8000

After Duty NumbersImportant After Duty Hour Numbers

Enjoy a game of kickball and support the AER Fund.Army Emergency Relief assists Soldiers and their familiesin times of emergency financial need.For information call (301) 619-2264www.detrick.armymwr.com

Event is open to DoD employeesand Soldiers.Date: September 5Time: 3:30 p.m.Location: Blue and Gray Field

UPCOMING EVENT

Though summer officially does not end until mid-September, the beginning of another school year andLabor Day weekend certainly have us all thinking thatway.Weall have different expectations for the summer,and to date this one did not have any record-breakingheat waves. The mild summer brought a number ofgood things, such as Frederick and surrounding coun-ty farmers having plentiful soybean and corn crops,consumers having reduced energy bills and all of usgetting to spend a little more time outdoors doing theactivities and hobbies we enjoy. Like our children,some of us would have liked a fewmore days of heat toenjoy the pool or water activities. My wife and I wereso happy to enjoy the mild temperature walking ouryoung twins. As this holiday weekend approaches andyou look forward to making plans for future activitiesand travels, please take time to ensure safety is a part ofyour plan whether using TRiPS or other safety aware-ness measures. Thanks to your example and culture ofsafety, our incidents are down.

In the coming months, Fort Detrick will cele-brate its birthday of transitioning to the InstallationManagement Command in 2011. Over the next fewmonths I would like to highlight some of the key re-sponsibilities the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick hasto support our Service Members, families and civil-ians. USAG has a duty to integrate the installation,implement Army programs, run the Army business-

es and provide installation support services. Thatmeans different things for each of the tenants, mis-sion partners and residents. For some, that meansthe Garrison provides reimbursable services, some-thing one would not expect or think an Army does.But not all USAG support is funded in the Army bud-get. The priorities are set by the Secretary of the Armyand the Chief of Staff of the Army with input fromthe commands and direct reporting units. IMCOMuses common levels of service standards as a meansto define a starting point or baseline service. For fis-cal 2014, an example CLS standard for entry into theinstallation is the time a patron stops at the queuingline to the time cleared to enter the installation, fiveminutes for 70 percent of our patrons. Another exam-ple is the time to receive a DEERS identification card.The time starts when the clerk begins the appoint-ment and ends with a patron receiving an ID card, 45minutes for 90 percent of our patrons. The keys foreach standard are educating our customers on ourperformance, listening to ways we can improve andmanaging customer expectations.

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Jessup and I areproud of everyone at Fort Detrick and its teammem-bers supporting the critical missions and roles in de-fense of our Nation. Thank you for the opportunity toSustain, Support and Defend!

Wrapping Up the Summer

Colonel Steven P. MiddlecampCommander, U.S. Army Garrison

Fort Detrick

3Fort Detrick StandardAugust 22, 2014Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development


After several months of thor-ough inspection, the Fort DetrickArmy Community Service programreceived its accreditation renewalby the Department of the Army onJuly 10, thus ensuring customersreceive the same quality of servicefrom Fort Detrick as they would atany other military installation.

Every three years, the ACSprogram must undergo an exten-sive inspection performed by theDepartment of the Army and theInstallation Management Com-mand. The inspection process en-sures that each installation’s ACSprogram possesses and maintains

the level of quality performancespecified in the ACS Standards.

Those standards reviewedACS’ overall management to in-clude strategic planning, bud-geting and record keeping; ser-vice delivery; and such servicesrelated to relocation readiness,employment readiness, finan-cial readiness, deployment andmobilization, Soldier and familyprograms and Exceptional FamilyMember Program.

“It’s nice to know we are doingeverything by the guidelines,” saidLiz Dague, Fort Detrick relocationprogram manager. “Clients havetold us this is one of the best ACSoffices they have been to.”

Fort Detrick’s most recent ac-creditation is valid through July 2017.

ACS ReceivesAccreditation Renewal JENNI BENSON

USAG PAO

Attention Commanders: Thesponsorship program at Fort Det-rick may be robust, but can only goas far as a commander’s support.

How can a commander sup-port the program? The first task isassigning the Soldiers in the unitwho are interested in becoming asponsor, official sponsorship du-ties. The next step is arrangingfor them to meet with Liz Dague,the Relocation Readiness programmanager within the Army Com-munity Services division.

“I’m really passionate aboutthis program. We don’t want ourservice members to have a horri-ble experience with their PCS. Wehave the tools and the program inplace to make sure those new to

Fort Detrick feel welcome,” saidDague. “We want to make surethey know where to go to meettheir needs and what services areavailable for their families; this iswhy a sponsor is so important. Thelast thing we want is for a servicemember and his or her family tofall through the cracks.”

What is a sponsor? “A sponsoris the ‘welcome wagon’ of sorts;they will make sure all the transi-tional needs are discussed way be-fore a service member steps footonto Fort Detrick so the relocationprocess runs as smooth as pos-sible,” said Dague.

She went on to say the key tobeing a good sponsor is beingpositive, enthusiastic, helpful andavailable. The sponsor will con-tact the incoming Soldier and runthrough a checklist available on-

line. “Everything a sponsor needsto be successful is at their finger-tips. It is my job to help them findthe information and resourcesthey may not know exist and to setthe sponsor up for success.”

“I can’t say enough about theimportance of this program forour new arrivals to Fort Detrick;this program makes the transitionfor the Soldier and their families aseasy as possible; the least we cando for those who are giving theirservice to our country.”

Commanders interested in face-to-face training for their unit, or thoseinterested in becoming sponsors, cancontactMs.Dagueat(301)619-6364oremail [email protected] training is also availableonlineat:www.militaryonesource.mil.Then select “e-sponsorship training.”

Taking the Fort Detrick Sponsorship Program to the Next Level

PAUL BELLONATIONAL MUSEUM OFHEALTH AND MEDICINE

Underseamedicine was the top-ic during July’s Medical MuseumScience Café, presented by the Na-tional Museum of Health and Med-icine. The talk, held at the SilverSpring Civic Building and attendedby nearly 50 people, was titled, “Un-derseaMedicine Research: Improv-ing Performance Under Pressure,”and featured U.S. Navy Capt. DavidRegis, head of the Undersea Medi-cineDepartment, NavyMedical Re-search Center at Fort Detrick-ForestGlen Annex.

A medical diving officer, Regishas served as head of biomedicalresearch for the Navy at its Ex-perimental Diving Unit in PanamaCity, Florida, as well as chief of pe-diatric infectious diseases, beforefinally transitioning to his currentposition at the NMRC. Regis fo-cused his talk on decompressionsickness. Along with the Center’ssister Navy labs and private sectorinstitutions, he explained how theNMRC has uncovered approachesthat can help mitigate decompres-sion sickness.

“Our bodies have evolved to liveat a certain depth. So any changefrom that is a change in our physi-ology that we’re normally sup-posed to be living at,” Regis said.“Oxygen is used to create all ourenergy systems that keep us alive,but, the larger part of air is nitro-gen, which is an inert gas. That’sthe one we get worried about withdecompression sickness. It’s whatcauses bubbles, which are believedto be a major contributor to de-compression sickness.”

As Regis explained, a diverbreathing compressed air takeson more nitrogen underwaterbecause the amount is greater atsurface level due to the increasedpressure at depth. That extra nitro-gen is then taken on by the indi-vidual’s body tissues.

“When a diver surfaces, thatnitrogen must come out of one’ssystem. If someone comes up too

fast, problems can occur due tobubbles and other physiologicalside effects. These problems rangefrom the aches and pains of ‘theBends,’ to life threatening neu-rologic and/or cardiopulmonarysigns and symptoms,” Regis said.

The Navy has examined ways oftreating decompression sickness,which usually occurs 10 minutesto 48 hours after a dive, without arecompression chamber - the cur-rent mainstay of treatment - Regissaid. Other studies examine theeffects of decompression sicknesson certain medications originallydeveloped for other purposes.

“We’re still trying to figure outall the mechanisms involved withdecompression sickness,” Re-gis said. “The theory is that thesebubbles initiate something, eitheran inflammatory cascade or theycan just get trapped in tissues.”

Studies by the Naval Subma-rine Medical Research Lab in Gro-ton, Connecticut, have shown thatpropranolol, a medication gener-ally prescribed for high blood pres-sure, can actually help lower anindividual’s metabolic demands inan atmosphere like a disabled sub-marine, Regis said. This is impor-tant because it extends the crewviability for another day or twowhile awaiting rescue. However,Regis points out that it is unknownif this drug will have any effect ondecompression sickness when therecovered personnel are then ex-posed to a change in pressure.

The NMHM’s Medical MuseumScience Cafés are a regular seriesof informal talks that connect themission of the Department of De-fense museum with the public.The NMHM was founded as theArmy Medical Museum in 1862and moved to its new location inSilver Spring, Maryland, in 2012.The next Science Café titled “Bac-teriophage Therapy: Is There anAlternative to Antibiotics?” willbe held Tuesday, Aug. 26 from6-7 p.m. at the Silver Spring CivicBuilding. The program is free andopen to the public. Learnmore on-line at: www.medicalmuseum.mil.

U.S. Navy Captain Researcher Discusses Undersea Medicine

U.S. Navy Capt. David Regis, head of the Undersea Medicine Department, Naval Medical ResearchCenter, discusses the effects of decompression sickness during the National Museum of Healthand Medicine’s July Medical Museum Science Café, held July 22 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.

Photo Courtesy of National Museum of Health and Medicine


As summer comes to a close and the mildweather makes spending time outside moreenjoyable, the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention encourages individuals tobe proactive in preventing mosquito bitesas West Nile Virus has been found in severalstates including Maryland.

What is West Nile Virus?According to the Army Public Health

Command, WNV is a mosquito-borne virusthat was first seen in the U.S. in 1999. WNVhas been known to cause serious healthproblems in individuals who have been af-fected. The virus has been found in everystate except Alaska and Hawaii.

How does someone get West Nile virus?The virus is transmitted to mosquitoes

when they bite infected birds. Mosquitoesthen carry the virus to more birds, as well asto humans when they are bitten. Though itis rare, it is possible for someone to contractWNV through blood transfusions, organtransplants, breastfeeding and even duringpregnancy from mother to baby.

What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?Eighty percent of people will not show

symptoms of the virus. Less than 20 per-cent of people will experience mild flu-likesymptoms between three and 14 days afterthey are bitten by an infected mosquito.Less than 1 percent of infected individualswill experience a much more serious diseasethat can cause encephalitis, an inflamma-tion of the brain. Encephalitis is marked byrapid onset of severe headache, high fever,stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness,paralysis, coma and even death.

How is West Nile Virus treated?According to the CDC, there are no spe-

cific treatments for WNV. Individuals whoare dealing with severe cases of WNV willrequire hospitalization to receive support-ive treatment, including intravenous fluids,help with breathing and nursing care.

What can I do to prevent West Nile Virus?The best way to prevent WNV is to avoid

being bitten by a mosquito. When outdoors,use repellants that contain DEET, picaridinor some oil of lemon eucalyptus. Also, besure to wear protective clothing when mos-quitoes are most active—from dusk to dawn.Individuals should also make sure they havegood screens covering their windows anddoors to keep mosquitoes out of their home.Finally, make sure there is no standing wateron the property. Empty standing water fromflower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the

water in pet dishes and replace the water inbird baths weekly. Also, drill holes in tireswings so water drains out. Keep children’swading pools empty and on their sides whenthey aren’t being used.

For more information on West Nile Virusvisit the Centers For Disease Control andPrevention website at: http://www.cdc.gov.

Community Encouraged to Take Steps to Protect Against West Nile Virus


NICK MINECCIUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

As a result of the 2013 U.S. SupremeCourt ruling in United States v. Windsor,the federal interpretation of “marriage”and “spouse” applying only to heterosexualunions, by Section 3 of the Defense of Mar-riage Act, is unconstitutional under the DueProcess Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Ac-cordingly, the Department of Labor issued“regulatory guidance to affirm that same-sex married couples can take a leave fromtheir jobs to care for an ill spouse.”

These changes were explained by BethShearer, Labor and Management EmployeeRelations Specialist, at a U.S. Army GarrisonTown Hall, Aug. 13, at the Community Ac-tivities Center.

Shearer explained the Department ofLabor submitted a Notice of Proposed Rule-making on June 20, suggesting two majorchanges to the definition of spouse.

The first change specifically includessame-sex marriage, and the second propos-es to consider the location of the marriage,rather than an individual’s state of residence.

“States that recognize gay marriage arealready required to provide FMLA rights togay married couples, but those states are inthe minority, according to Shearer. Thirty-one of the 50 states do not recognize gaymarriage, so they are not required to pro-vide FMLA access. This proposal, if madeinto law, would change that,” Shearer said.

Because of the proposed change, a spousewill be covered by the FMLA if the marriagewas entered into in a state that recognized the

marriage, also called a “place of celebration.”A place of celebration rule would allow

all legally married couples, whether oppo-site-sex or same-sex, or married under com-mon law, to have consistent federal familyleave rights regardless of where they live.With respect to the FMLA’s military familyleave provisions, the proposed place of cel-ebration rule is consistent with the Depart-ment of Defense’s policy of treating all mar-ried members of the military equally.

According to Shearer, when the Depart-ment of Defense is administering its policyit looks to the place of celebration to deter-mine if a military member is in a valid mar-riage. “The DoD believes it is appropriatewherever possible to align the availability of

FMLA military leave with the availability ofother marriage-based benefits provided bythe department,” Shearer told the gathering.

According to Shearer, the proposed rulewould provide eligible employees the op-portunity to take FMLA leave to take care oftheir same-sex spouse, regardless of wherethey live, in these situations:

- Caring for their same-sex spouse with aserious health condition.

- Taking quality exigency leave due to theirsame-sex spouse’s covered military service.

- Taking military caregiver leave for theirsame-sex spouse.

“Stay tuned for more updates; things arechanging and we need to stay informed aswe move forward,” Shearer said.

Same-sex Couples Granted New Rights Under FMLA


Fort Detrick started as a small municipalairport established at Frederick, Marylandin 1929. Originally called Frederick Air Field,it was renamed Detrick Field in honor ofSquadron Flight Surgeon Maj. Frederick L.Detrick, a native of New Market, Maryland.Detrick was born in 1889, served in Franceduring World War I, and died in 1931.

The men of his unit, the 104th AeroSquadron of the 29th Division (MarylandNational Guard), which held training atthe field, had such respect for Detrick theyunanimously voted to rename the field inhis honor.

A concrete and tarmac airfield replacedthe grass field in 1939, and an upgraded De-trick Field served as a cadet pilot trainingcenter until the country’s entry into World

War II. Detrick Field was formally leasedfrom the City of Frederick in 1940.

Following the Japanese attack on PearlHarbor, the last military airplanes left Det-rick Field and all assets of the 104th and thecadet program were reassigned to subma-rine patrol duty off the Atlantic Coast.

From March to September 1942, the 2ndBombardment Squadron of the U.S. Army AirCorps was resident at Detrick Field beforedeploying to England, where it became the8th Air Force Headquarters. In 1943, DetrickField ceased operations as an aviation cen-ter and the U.S. government purchased ad-ditional land for Detrick Field, renaming thefacility Camp Detrick. The facility becamethe site of the U.S. Army Biological WarfareLaboratories; responsible for researchingbiocontainment, decontamination, gaseoussterilization and agent purification.

The photo above is dated Aug. 17, 1933.

Days of Yore...Looking Backat Fort Detrick’s History

1043277


LISA MORRISUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisi-tion Activity Director Brian Martin assumedthe position of principal assistant responsiblefor contracting July 27, which he will main-tain in conjunction with his role as director.

With an accounting degree from Penn-sylvania State University, Martin once be-lieved his career would consist of sitting ata desk and crunching numbers as a certifiedpublic accountant. However, when he ac-cepted a position as an intern at the USAM-RAA in 1987, he knew contract negotiationprovided more of the variety he needed.

“The nice thing about my job now is Inever know what I’ll deal with day-to-day,”said Martin. “Issues vary from personnelto workload to facility. You name it, I en-counter it.”

From an intern, he climbed up to be-come a contracting and grants officer beforehe left the USAMRAA in 2000 for a brief pe-riod, returning after three years and servingas the chief of operations, which eventuallyled to his leadership of the activity as direc-tor beginning November 2013.

As director, Martin oversees the USAM-RAA’s daily operations, ensuring the staffof 230 at the activity meet their customers’needs and accomplish their workload. Asthe PARC, he will oversee the procurementfunctions the USAMRAA performs.

“PARC will add a lot of additional respon-sibility and oversight to my role at USAM-RAA. I want to carry on a positive traditionand accomplish the PARC duties in a reason-able and responsible manner,” said Martin.

Previously, the two roles of director andPARC belonged to two separate individuals.

Martin believes the USAMRAA may ben-efit from reverting back to a method imple-mented under a previous command andcombining the two for one person.

“It may add to efficiencies. Keeping thePARC at the USAMRAA makes the individualcontinuouslyavailable to the staff,” saidMartin.

The USAMRAA’s staff, family-like atmo-sphere and military research mission withwhich they work brought Martin back to theorganization in 2003. According to Martin, thestaff was and remains a high priority for him.

“I’m looking forward to continuing toimprove the work atmosphere at the US-AMRAA as well as assisting with building aquality procurement office,” said Martin.“Ultimately my goal is to make the USAM-RAA a premier acquisition office, so when Ileave and retire I can turn the keys over tosomeone and say they have a premier acqui-sition shop.”

USAMRAA Director Becomes PARC

Brian Martin, director of the U.S. ArmyMedical Research Acquisition Activity,will now also serve as the principalassistant responsible for contracting.

Photo provided by Brian Martin

ARLENE GOYETTEMEDICAL COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS

The Joint Project Management Officefor Medical Countermeasure Systems wel-comed a new leader for the Joint VaccineAcquisition Program during a change ofcharter ceremony at Fort Detrick on July 18.

Lt. Col. Victor Suarez assumed responsi-bility as the Joint Product Manager for theJVAP from Lt. Col. David Hammer, the out-going JPdM.

Opening remarks by Douglas Bryce,deputy joint program executive officer forChemical and Biological Defense and Col.Russell Coleman, head of MCS at Fort Det-rick, were followed by the ceremonial pass-ing of colors from Hammer to Suarez.

Hammer was presented with a ceremo-nial charter and extended best wishes tohis successor.

“Military ceremonies such as changes ofcharters, commands or responsibilities areone of several ways which uniquely sepa-rate us from non-military organizationsand serve to symbolically reinforce ourvalues and beliefs and publically showcasethe peaceful change of leadership while themission moves forward,” said Suarez, whowas tapped for his new position in 2013while commanding the U.S. Army MedicalMateriel Center-Southwest Asia in Qatar.

“I look forward to leading this incredibleteam of professionals at JVAP who, despiteoverwhelming odds, continue to have thepassion, competence and dedication to getour products to licensure, ” Suarez said.

He thanked his predecessor and his staff,crediting them as “true professionals” who

set him and the program up for success.Suarez acknowledged the support of his

wife, Lt. Col. Kate Suarez, and two sons,Alex and Jayden. “Kate has endured me es-sentially living out of a suitcase, deployed orcommuting home on weekends for the lastsix years. She did this while holding downseveral part-time jobs, performing Army Re-serve duty, volunteering hundreds of hours,and raising two very, very and I mean very,active and athletic boys. She is the bestperson I know — my best friend — and sheinspires me every day to be a good Army of-ficer, man and father.”

He also thanked his in-laws, Mag andJerry Collarini, calling them his “EastCoast parents.”

Suarez has served in multiple lead-

Lt. Col. Victor Suarez Welcomed toMedical Countermeasure Systems

Col. Russell Coleman welcomes Lt. Col.Victor Suarez as the new Joint ProductManager of MCS-JVAP.

Photo by Scott Brown, MCS

See WELCOME, continued on page 9

1042657


Fort Detrick Night at the Keys

“Be Awesome” is what one local family tells the Frederick Keys duringwarm-ups at the Fort Detrick Night at the Keys Game.

Photo by Lanessa Hill

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard D. Jessup shares laughs with Keyote, theFrederick Keys mascot, during the Fort Detrick Night at the Keys, Aug. 7.

Photo by Emily Hill

The Fort Detrick Color Guard kicked off the start of the Frederick Keys baseball game Thursday, Aug. 7, in Frederick, Maryland, with the presentation ofthe colors. Over 230 tickets were sold to active duty and civilian employees of Fort Detrick. Photo by Emily Hill

Spc. Twyla Rosa throws out the first pitch during Fort Detrick Night at theKeys, Aug. 7, at Harry Grove Stadium. Rosa, a radiology specialist assignedto Barquist Army Health Clinic, is also president of the Fort Detrick BetterOpportunities for Single Soldiers Program. Photo by Emily Hill



The transition of deputy com-mander of operations at the 6thMedical Logistics ManagementCenter, Fort Detrick, to commanderof FortDetrickArmyBarquistHealthClinic has Lt. Col. Jason Sepanic ex-cited and setting high goals.

Sepanic, an Iowa native anda Drake University graduate, hasspent his career challenging him-self as he has continued his edu-cation and advanced his career asan Army officer while also being aparent to five children.

“Each place that we have livedhas had great opportunities, butliving with my family in Italy wasprobably the best. We lived inItaly for three years in an Italianvilla,” Sepanic said. “When weleft, my two youngest childrenwere fluent in Italian becausethey went to an Italian preschool.While we were there, my oldestson was able to serve mass in theVatican. That isn’t something youget to do every day. It was just aphenomenal experience.”

Sepanic joked thathis family is still

on the search for real Italian pizza.Sepanic also shared his hopes

for the clinic while he serves as thecommander.

“I want to continue to improveupon the great care that is givenhere so we can support the com-munity,” Sepanic said. “We are go-ing to try to expand upon the cur-rent partnership we have with the[Veterans Affairs Clinic]. We alsowant to continue to increase theoverall health of the communitythrough the triad initiative.”

He and his family take greatpride in their overall health andwell-being. The family of seveneats whole foods and is intentionalabout eating healthy.

“I have a fitness tracker, as doesmy wife, Kathy. We compete witheach other. We want to motivateeveryone here [at Fort Detrick] toalso do whatever they can withintheir ability. We want to set a goodexample and really practice whatwe preach,” Sepanic said.

Since 1995, Sepanic has earneda bachelor’s degree in biology, amaster’s degree in healthcare ad-ministration and amaster’s degreein military arts and science, as well

as multiple achievements in hismilitary education.

Sepanic’s previous assignmentshave included jobs in Korea, Wash-ington, Texas, Africa and Italy.

Though Sepanic has enjoyedmany positive aspects of being aSoldier, he has also faced experi-ences that have changed his out-look on life. Sepanic describedhis deployment to Operation IraqiFreedom I as one of the most chal-lenging experiences he has had,both personally and professionally.

“We had the highest num-ber of casualties killed in actionin the entire division. This hada lot of personal effect on me,”Sepanic said of his deployment toOIF I. “You have to have a lot of[strength] to be able to see whetheror not someone is going to be ableto pull through a severe casualty.”

Sepanic’s compassion and ded-ication for ensuring the best qual-ity of care for those around himwill drive positive experiences atthe BAHC.

New Barquist Commander Sets High Goals for Health Clinic

Lt. Col. Jason Sepanic and his family enjoy their last visit to Ven-ice, Italy before their permanent change of station to Fort Detrick.

Photo provided by Lt. Col. Jason Sepanic

BY LISA MORRISUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Col. Robert Cotell, Staff JudgeAdvocate for theU.S. ArmyMedicalResearch and Materiel Command,has received his orders for his newpermanent change of station.

In Cotell’s two years of serviceas the lead lawyer at Fort Detrick,he advised the headquarters staffon daily legal issues. In his newrole, he will advise the Judge Ad-vocate General at the U.S. ArmyLegal Services Agency at Fort Bel-voir, Virginia.

Cotell will miss his position, thestaff with whom he worked andthe area surrounding Fort Detrick.

“The staff’s work mademe lookgood to the commander and theUSAMRMC staff, essentially be-cause of very dedicated workers inthe office,” said Cotell. “Fort Det-rick is a great area – close enoughto a big city but far enough thatyou’re spread out and have a lot ofopportunities for outdoor activi-ties. Although small, Fort Detrick

is one of the best Army posts I’veserved on; it is well-run and a niceplace to be stationed.”

Cotell is confident his replace-ment, Lt. Col. Deon M. Green willrecognize and embrace the skilledstaff she has at the USAMRMC.

“The general’s office at FortDetrick is very well-run and well-staffed. The personnel have manyyears of experience and are well-respected among those at the in-stallation. I’m sure she [Green]will cultivate that and understandthe folks do very good jobs in theirparticular areas of expertise,” saidCotell. “Fort Detrick is very uniquewhen dealing with issues youwould never see anywhere else,such as research law. The staff wehave here is very experienced inthose issues. You have to recog-nize that when you come in, whileyou may be the leader of the of-fice with years of experience, youmust use the staff in the areas ofexpertise, which will be helpful toadvance the mission of the office.”

USAMRMC Staff JudgeAdvocate Moves On MELANIE REESE

FORT DETRICK FIRE &EMERGENCY SERVICES

Since the introduction of 911in 1968 as a universal number foremergency assistance, efforts toraise public awareness about thenumber have been successful.Generally speaking, people knowto call 911 in an emergency, butwhat the public is seemingly lessaware of is when not to call. In re-cent years, the system has becomeburdened with increasing callsthat are not true emergencies.

Most people rarely face emer-gency situations, therefore lack-ing firsthand experience with 911.As a result, they may have unrea-sonable expectations about whathappens when on the phone withemergency assistance personnel.As a general rule many dispatchcall centers follow protocols thatreassure callers and guide themthrough a sequence of questionsand instructions to take charge ofthe situation and obtain informa-tion needed to dispatch the rightresponders to the correct location.

As new technologies becomeavailable, such as sending an alertvia text message, a learning curvecomes into play for not only thesystem and its operators but forthe general public. All of thesefactors suggest a growing needfor targeted and well-coordinatedpublic education efforts.

When to Call 911:In an emergency, call 911 or

your local emergency number im-mediately.

An emergency is any situationthat requires immediate assis-tance from the police, fire depart-ment or ambulance. Examplesinclude:

- A fire- A crime, especially if in progress- A car crash, especially if some-

one is injured- A medical emergency, such as:

someonewho is unconscious, gasp-ing for air or not breathing; experi-encing an allergic reaction; havingchest pain; having uncontrollablebleeding; or any other symptomsthat require immediate medical at-tention

When you call 911, be preparedto answer the call-taker’s ques-tions, which may include:

- The location of the emergen-cy, including the street address

- The phone number you arecalling from

- The nature of the emergency- Details about the emergency,

such as a physical description of aperson who may have committeda crime, a description of any firethat may be burning, or a descrip-

tion of injuries or symptoms beingexperienced by a person having amedical emergency

Remember, the call-taker’s ques-tions are important to get the neces-saryhelp toyouasquicklyaspossible.

Be prepared to follow any in-structions the call-taker gives you.Many 911 centers can tell you ex-actly what to do until help arrives,such as providing step-by-step in-structions to aid someone who ischoking or needs first aid and CPR.

Finally, do not hang up until thecall-taker instructs you to do so.

If you dial 911 by mistake, or if achild in your home dials 911 whenno emergency exists, do not hangup—that could make 911 officialsthink that an emergency exists, andpossibly send responders to your lo-cation. Stay on the line and explainto the call-taker what happened.

If you’re not sure whether thesituation is a true emergency, of-ficials recommend calling 911 andletting the call-taker determinewhether you need emergency help.

When to Call 911

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

visitwww.dcmilitary.com


LISA MORRISUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Every Tuesday since January, the U.S. Army MedicalResearch and Materiel Command’s Col. Todd Rasmussencommutes from his New Market home to the BaltimoreVeterans Affairs Medical Center to donate his time as avascular surgeon.

His new position as director of the Combat Casualty CareResearch Program differs greatly from his previous assign-ments with military medical centers, both in-Garrison anddeployed, including theWalter Reed National Military Med-ical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Brooke ArmyMed-ical Center and Iraq and Afghanistan. He no longer spendsthe majority of his days in the operating room, which heknew he would miss before he arrived at the USAMRMC.

To ensure his skills as a surgeon would stay relevant,Rasmussen began the process of receiving his credentialsat the VA and Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore almost assoon as he arrived at Fort Detrick.

After nine months, he became credentialed in Decem-ber 2013 and began seeing patients as a volunteer surgeonin January.

“When I took this assignment, I was concerned aboutstaying active as a surgeon because I believe most goodmedical research comes from bedside operations and ex-amining questions like, ‘Could we have done the operationin a different or better way?’ and, ‘Could we have providedthe operation or a medication at a different or more benefi-cial time?’” said Rasmussen. “Those types of clinical obser-vations stimulate good research; especially those related tomilitary injury.”

Apart from the lengthy process of becoming creden-tialed at the VA, another challenge Rasmussen recognizesincludes sharing his time with his full-time assignmentat the USAMRMC. He noted this venture would not havebeen possible without the support from Maj. Gen. JosephCaravalho, Jr., commanding general, USAMRMC at FortDetrick and Dr. John Glenn, principal assistant for Re-search and Technology.

“A lot of credit goes to Maj. Gen. Caravalho and Dr.Glenn. They had the vision and capacity to support this as-pect of my profession,” said Rasmussen.

Dr. Glenn believes many health care providers from theUSAMRMC have contributed to the success of the researchand development mission, and those using the most up-

dated knowledge and tools are often the most motivatedleaders in pursuit of medical advancements. Rasmussen’sdedication to maintaining his surgical skills directly sup-ports the research and development mission.

“Not all of those who make the transition from bedsideto bench, or to R&D leadership, are committed to end-ing their clinical careers, and need to maintain their skillsthrough clinical practice,” said Glenn. “The current genera-tion of USAMRMC leaders, like the prior ones, has judgedthat the cost to the R&D mission is small in relation to thebenefits returned, in terms of a sustained focus on solvingclinical problems.”

The relationships Rasmussen developed with staff at theUSAMRMC and at the VA demonstrate his ability to man-age his mission in both places. Coworkers understand hissituation when he must occasionally miss a meeting for asurgery, and fellow surgeons at the VA and Shock TraumaCenter have the capacity to cover for him in a scheduledsurgery if his duties at the USAMRMC call him back.

“I couldn’t say enough about the patience and supportof many coworkers and mentors here at the USAMRMC. Al-though not unprecedented, this is a new approach to things,and I appreciate that,” said Rasmussen.

CCCRP Director Volunteers at Baltimore VAMedical Center and Shock Trauma Center

Col. Todd Rasmussen prepares for an operation in a Level III surgical facility at a previous assignment atBagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Photo provided by Col. Todd Rasmussen

BY PAUL BELLO & SHANNON SARINONATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE

They come from varying backgrounds, but share anenthusiasm for history. They love talking with inquisitiveyoung people and adults with an interest in medicine or theCivil War. They place themselves on the frontlines for ques-tions and make sure no visitor leaves without first receivinga smile or a handshake.

Volunteer docents, in so many ways, are not only am-bassadors, but a lifeline between the community and theNational Museum of Health andMedicine. Docents assist inactivities and lead tours throughout the museum’s exhibits,which include specimens and artifacts related to militarymedicine, anatomy and pathology, biomedical engineeringand human identification.

Lisa Weed, a retired forensic lab scientist, has been avolunteer docent for three years. In 2013, she was namedthe museum’s Volunteer of the Year in a ceremony at FortDetrick, Maryland where leadership lauded her dedication,passion and curiosity for science. “If people are here, theyreally want to learn. And odds are, I’m going to learn some-thing from the group, too,” Weed said. “I feel like I get somuch more than I give sometimes.”

Frank Bruno, a retired family physician who practicedin Columbia, Maryland, for 40 years, said the NMHMmeetstwo of his major interests: his professional interest in medi-

Volunteer Docents Integral Part ofMuseum Outreach with Community

A young boy learns about the human brain with LisaWeed (right), a volunteer docent at the National Muse-um of Health and Medicine, during a special 150thanniversary open house held on May 21, 2012, at thegrand opening of the new National Museum of Healthand Medicine building in Silver Spring, Maryland.Photo provided by the National Museum of Health and Medicine See OUTREACH, continued on page 91043348


JENNI BENSONUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Relationships between federal and non-federal entities shape the way we partnerwith those “outside the gate.” Those rela-tionships are governed by several regula-tions that spell out how to interact and dobusiness with NFEs. An NFE by definition isa self-sustaining, non-federal person or or-ganization; established, operated, and con-trolled by any individual(s) acting outsidethe scope of any official capacity as officers,employees, or agents of the federal govern-ment. Non-federal entities may include ele-ments of state, interstate, Indian tribal andlocal government, as well as private organi-zations. As a general rule, federal entities areprohibited from using their official positionto endorse or give preferential treatment (oreven simply create the appearance of such)to any non-federal person, organization,event or service. This includes contractors,non-profits and religious groups.

Some NFEs fall under statutory authorityfor support, such as the Combined FederalCampaign, Army Emergency Relief and theUSO, to name a few. This means they do not

have the same restrictions as the majority oforganizations and have additional privilegesand considerations. The Department of De-fense General Counsel ensures that desig-nations of entities approved for support arepublished in the Federal Register.

The use of government resources hasseveral regulations that tackle the fiscal andethical considerations taken when workingwith the community, ranging from improp-er use of government property, endorse-ments and support for events to servingon committees and boards of NFEs. Manyof the guidelines can be found in the JointEthics Regulations.

The success of Fort Detrick is contingentupon community support and building re-lationships. These relationships are encour-aged, but must be done in the proper man-ner, within the confines of the law. Theselaws are not made to hinder the develop-ment of key relationships, but to ensure thegovernment and those business partner-ships are well protected. Keep in mind, thebest option is to seek legal counsel with theservicing Office of the Staff Judge Advocatefor guidance and interpretation of theserules and regulations.

Just Outside the Gate

cine and his personal interest in Civil Warhistory. A doctor having served during theVietnam War, he also makes a point of dis-cussing the sacrifices service members havemade when in battle.

“I like to see people become more in-terested in the history of our country. I tryvery hard not to glorify the Civil War, or ro-manticize it, but instead to delve into whatsome of the Soldiers really went through,”Bruno said. “My work here has forced me toread more and do research into the care ofthe wounded and the dead during the CivilWar, which is something I might not havedone otherwise.”

According to Army Volunteer Corpsregulations, volunteers must receive pro-fessional development training and an ori-entation prior to starting. At the NMHM,volunteers embark on an introduction tothe museum’s history and current location,in addition to tour outlines, public speak-ing skills, and information about the mu-seum’s vast collections. Once volunteersreceive their initial training, they are thenasked to attend monthly meetings that fur-ther their development.

Docents at the museum are not paid,but are provided a unique and rewardingexperience. In addition to their docenttraining, they receive a wealth of opportu-nities in and around the National CapitalRegion. Docents recently attended a pro-fessional development session at the com-memoration of the Battle of Monocacy justoutside Frederick, Maryland, and visited

historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for atour of its battlefields and Civil War mu-seums. They also represent the museumat various outreach activities, includingthe monthly NMHM Medical Museum Sci-ence Cafés and the third U.S.A. Science andEngineering Festival, the most recent ofwhich was held in April at the WashingtonConvention Center.

“Our volunteers are an integral part ofour public programs here at the museum,”said Gwen Nelmes, tour program coordina-tor for the NMHM. “They are a liaison be-tween the museum and the public, commit-ted to educating all ages on the impact ofmilitary medicine.”

Docents have received a variety ofawards over the years for their service atthe museum, according to Nelmes. FortDetrick, home to the U.S. Army Medical Re-search andMateriel Command and the mu-seum’s headquarters group, acknowledges avolunteer each year at a special recognitionceremony. Volunteers are also eligible to re-ceive a President’s Volunteer Service Awardbased on hours of service. Docents from theNMHM have received this honor the pasttwo years in a row, Nelmes said.

Anyone interested in becoming a vol-unteer docent at the NMHM must be atleast 21 years of age and open to a flexibleschedule that includes weekday and week-end opportunities.

A volunteer open house will be heldSaturday, Sept. 13 from 1-2 p.m. Volun-teer trainings will run from Oct. 6-10 from9 a.m.-noon, and Oct. 4 from 1-4 p.m. Formore information, call (301) 319-3312 orvisit www.medicalmuseum.mil.

OUTREACH, continued from page 8

ership roles. After attending the Medi-cal Logistics Management internshipprogram, he was appointed the U.S.Army Medical Materiel Agency’s field-ing operations officer. He later headedthe Materiel Fielding Division and wasthe medical logistics support team com-mander. He spent the year before his Qa-tar deployment at Fort Detrick as a sup-port operations officer at the 6th MedicalLogistics Management Center.

The JVAP works with the biotechnology

industry, academia and many interagencyand international partners to develop vac-cines to defeat weaponized forms of agentsthat cause deadly diseases. The JVAP is theDefense Department’s lead biological war-fare vaccine advanced developer with sev-eral products in sustainment such as an-thrax and smallpox vaccines. The programis also overseeing development of vaccinesto protect against ricin exposure, western,eastern and Venezuelan equine encephali-tis, botulism, filovirus (including Ebola andMarburg) and plague.

WELCOME, continued from page 5

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During the quarterly Fort Detrick Restoration AdvisoryBoard meeting held Aug. 6 in Frederick, Arcadis, the con-tractor working with the Army on Area B remediation an-nounced company work crews drilled shallow wells on FortDetrick’s Area B in an effort to determine if any groundwa-ter contamination is present near the surface.

According to John Cherry, project manager for Arcadis,previous wells were drilled hundreds of feet deep into thegroundwater table to test for contamination. The new wells,only 40 feet deep, will help determine if any contaminantsexists closer to the groundwater layer.

Cherry explained that samples were taken from shallowwells for testing, but those results were not yet available.Cherry went on to say that preliminary test results of the deepwells, which were discussed at the March RAB, are not final.

Groundwater in the area generally flows west to east,across Area B toward Rosemont Avenue and Fort Detrickaccording to Cherry, but groundwater under Waverley’sShookstown Road property flows south. It has not beendetermined if this flow might affect nearby communities,but Arcadis’ data suggests contaminants that may be pres-ent are not moving westward from the Waverley property,Cherry said.

Arcadis plans to continue drilling deepwells on theWaver-ley property and Area B, with sampling scheduled for the fall.

The next Restoration Advisory Board meeting is sched-uled for Nov. 5.

Fort Detrick RAB Update


The U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick employees gatheredat the Community Activities Center Aug. 8 to recognize theirpeers for outstanding achievements, years in service andEmployee of the Quarter awards.

“It’s always a great day when we can get together andrecognize outstanding service that our staff provides to ourcustomers,” said Fort Detrick Garrison Commander Col.Steven Middlecamp.

“That’s what we do. We support our mission partnersand the Army, and every one of us has a responsibility togive our best every day. You all do a great job and it’s a plea-sure to recognize these individuals for their hard work,”Middlecamp said.

Congratulations to all the winners listed below:Defense Intelligence Agency National Centerfor Medical Intelligence Director’s AwardJohn Goshorn – Directorate of Public Works

Chris Kaleo – DPWMichael Sperlein – DPWSuperior Civilian Service Award,Certificates of RetirementDavid L. Stealey – Directorate of Emergency ServicesNIAID Integrated Research Facility Certificateof AppreciationMary Chizmar – Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobiliza-

tion and SecurityCareer Service Awards5-Year Career Service AwardJay E. Bartlett, II – DPWLawrence Fernandez – DPW10-Year Career Service AwardBryan Adlam – DESDamon Baldini – DESRodger Knepper – Directorate of Family and Morale, Wel-

fare, and Recreation

Crystal Snyder – FMWRValeria Woodburn – FMWR15-Year Career Service AwardAntonio Barone - DESAscension Fleming - FMWR20-Year Career Service AwardAngie Maiorana - DHRLarry Redmond - DPWUSAG Employee of the Quarter AwardsNomineesJay Bartlett – DPWDarryl Brown – DESRichard DeBee – DPTMSRonald Lewis – DESGordon Nero – DHRRobert Rodgers – FMWRSheri Schaefer – DHRPamela Tucker – FMWRKenneth Wallech – DES

Employee of the Quarter WinnerRichard DeBee – DPTMS

Garrison Employees Gather for Quarterly Awards Ceremony

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For more information on volunteering for the local Honor Flight program,visit facebook.com/honorflightdca or honorflightcr.org

Area military families are invited to join the DCMilitary Family Life staff in honoring our World War II veterans on

Saturday, September 13.

There are 2 separate groups arriving into Reagan National Airport on September 13, and there are several ways you can participatethroughout the day:

Group 1:• Welcome 90 veterans at the US Airways, Terminal A at 10:02am to salute and cheer their arrival.• Salute these veterans as they visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall from 2:30pm – 3:45pm.• At the end of the day, you can help bid farewell after their full day of touring as they return to Reagan National Airport at 6:30pm.

Group 2:• Welcome 25 veterans at the AirTran Airways, Terminal C at 11:05am to salute and cheer their arrival.• Salute these veterans as they visit the World War II Memorial on the National Mall from 12:30pm – 1:30pm.• At the end of the day, you can help bid farewell after their full day of touring as they return to ReaganNational Airport at 6:30pm.

Look for a special pullout banner in the August 15th issue of DCMilitary Family Life, or visit

DCMilitary.com/honorflight to download a special welcome banner to customize and hold as you greetour veterans. Our photographers will be on hand to snap a photo of your family with your personalbanner for future publication.

Help DC Military Family Life and Comprint honor our veterans and meet other military families whileyou are volunteering. It will be the perfect way to spend a Saturday in D.C.


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