Commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific visits NAMRU San Antonio

26 March 2024

From Burrell Parmer

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) made an official visit to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio.

During his visit, he toured NAMRU San Antonio facilities at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute to include the Tri-Service Research Laboratory and hosted a townhall meeting at the Military and Family Readiness Center.

Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs.

Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim.

According to Valdes, NAMRU San Antonio is unique as it is located in a joint environment.

“In some of the other locations such as Dayton, Ohio, the research laboratories may have one sister service in the area, but here in San Antonio, there is the Army, Air Force, and Navy in the research arena,” said Valdes, who served as the commanding officer of Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi from 2015 to 2017. “Additionally, NAMRU San Antonio is the only Naval research unit located next to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), the Department of Defense’s (DoD) only level-one trauma center which I believe provides them with a significant advantage over the other labs.”

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), held a townhall meeting at the Military and Family Readiness Center during his official visit to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), presents his command coin to Dr. Clifford Morgan assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio during a townhall meeting held at the Military and Family Readiness Center. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), presents his command coin to Cmdr. Brendan O’Brien assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio during a townhall meeting held at the Military and Family Readiness Center. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), presents his command coin to U.S. Army Sgt. Gabriela Jordan of Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio during a townhall meeting held at the Military and Family Readiness Center. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Capt. Ewell Hollis, (Medical Corps), executive officer, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio, speaks with Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Tri-Service Research Laboratory. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Lt. Cmdr. Jason Cole, deputy director of Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Directed Energy Health Effects Directorate, speaks with Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) at the Tri-Service Research Laboratory. Valdes toured the facility and received a series of briefings ranging from Expeditionary and Trauma Medicine to Cellular and Immune Based Adjuncts. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. Meaghan Rose, a research scientist assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, presents an in-house design of an amalgam separator for dental chairs to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. Meaghan Rose, a research scientist assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, briefs information on the placement of amalgam separators for dental chairs to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. Amer Tiba, a research scientist assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, briefs research on self-healing dental resin versus a flowable restorative to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. Sabrina Snyder, a research scientist, joined by fellow research scientist Dr. Amer Tiba, both assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, briefs research on self-healing dental resin versus a flowable restorative to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. William D’Angelo, a biomedical engineer assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Combat Casualty Care and Operational Medicine Directorate, briefs the capabilities of a prototype portable ozone sterilizer to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. The equipment is being developed by NAMRU San Antonio to be utilized by front-line military corpsmen, clinicians, and dentists during combat and humanitarian missions. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Dr. Luis Martinez, a research microbiologist assigned to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio’s Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, briefs research on Electrospun Alveolar Ridge Grafts to Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP), during Valdes’ official visit at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 25, 2024) – Rear Adm. Guido Valdes, commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) made an official visit to Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio. During his visit, he toured NAMRU San Antonio facilities at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute and Tri-Service Research Laboratory. Valdes, who serves as the Chief of Navy Medical Corps, has oversight of 10 Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands on the West Coast and Pacific Rim as well as Navy Medicine's eight global research labs. Valdes also serves under the Defense Health Agency (DHA) as the director of the Defense Health Network Pacific Rim where he oversees the delivery and integration of healthcare at nine medical treatment facilities (MTF) on the West Coast and Pacific Rim. NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released)

During the townhall meeting, Valdes provided information on the future of Naval Medical Research, the relationship in reference to DHA, importance of communication with the line community, and core funding. Additionally, he presented command coins to three outstanding NAMRU San Antonio staff members.

“As with the other research labs I visited, the caliber of scientists here is incredible,” said Valdes. “The level of pride in the projects they are working here in San Antonio, from basic to applied research, was easily observed. I realize that it takes a lot of effort, as this type of research does not happen overnight.”

NAMRU San Antonio’s mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of DoD personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.

It is one of the leading research and development laboratories for the U.S. Navy under the DoD and is one of eight subordinate research commands in the global network of laboratories operating under the Naval Medical Research Command in Silver Spring, Md.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: Commander, Naval Medical Forces Pacific visits NAMRU San Antonio

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