USAMRIID to Hold Change of Command Ceremony June 22 at Fort Detrick
COL Aaron C. Pitney will assume command of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in a ceremony at Fort Detrick June 22 at 10:00 a.m. He succeeds COL Constance L. Jenkins, who has headed the Institute since June 2021 and will become the Special Assistant to The Surgeon General for Military Health System Governance, Falls Church, Va.
Under COL Jenkins's leadership, USAMRIID continued to transform, ensuring a relevant, agile, and responsive scientific infrastructure that can respond to current and future emerging biological threats to protect the Warfighter, while also responding to disease outbreaks around the globe. USAMRIID's expertise was sought by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Department of Defense and Army senior leaders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization to combat outbreaks of monkeypox, Sudan Ebola virus, and Marburg virus.
During her two-year tenure, COL Jenkins also was instrumental in reshaping the Institute's business practices to improve efficiency, while focusing on professional development of leaders, civilians, and Soldiers. Her "people first" approach contributed to a culture of teamwork and improved morale across the USAMRIID workforce.
"USAMRIID's dedicated researchers and professionals have worked tirelessly in the discovery of therapeutics and the development of cutting-edge technologies," COL Jenkins said. "Their collective efforts continue to protect the Joint Force and the greater public health from high consequence infectious diseases."
COL Pitney is a West Point graduate and Army physician who most recently served as Command Surgeon for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, Va. He is board certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. From 2020 to 2022, COL Pitney commanded the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. In addition to running a hospital during a global pandemic, his team delivered thousands of COVID vaccines and performed more than 120,000 COVID tests–medical solutions that were developed, in part, through USAMRIID's research efforts on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The USAMRIID change of command ceremony will take place at the Fort Detrick Auditorium, 1520 Freedman Drive, Fort Detrick, MD 21702. Media representatives who wish to attend should contact Caree Vander Linden at teresa.l.vanderlinden.civ@health.mil.
About the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases:
Since 1969, USAMRIID has provided leading edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological threat agents. The Institute is the only laboratory in the Department of Defense equipped to safely study highly hazardous viruses requiring maximum containment at Biosafety Level 4. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and training programs that protect both Warfighters and civilians. The Institute's unique science and technology base serves not only to address current threats to our Armed Forces but is an essential element in the medical response to any future biological threats that may confront our nation. For more information, visit www.usamriid.army.mil.
About the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command:
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command is the Army's medical materiel developer, with responsibility for medical research, development, and acquisition. The USAMRDC's expertise in these critical areas helps establish and maintain the capabilities the Army needs to remain ready and lethal on the battlefield. Ensuring our armed forces remain in optimal health and are equipped to protect themselves from disease and injury, particularly on the battlefield, is the job of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. The Command is headquartered at Fort Detrick, MD, with subordinate commands located throughout the world. For more information, visit https://mrdc.health.mil/.
About the Army Futures Command:
Army Futures Command leads the persistent modernization of the Army in order to provide future warfighters with the concepts, capabilities, and organizational designs needed to dominate a future battlefield. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, AFC has more than 26,000 people worldwide. The Army's six modernization priorities are the focus of our eight Cross Functional Teams: Long Range Precision Fires; Next Generation Combat Vehicle; Future Vertical Lift; Army Network; Air and Missile Defense; Soldier Lethality; Assured Positioning Navigation Timing; and Synthetic Training Environment. The Artificial Intelligence Task Force and Army Applications Lab also support our efforts. Collaborating with entrepreneurs, scientists, industry, and academia, AFC strives to create the best solutions to keep Soldiers safe and America strong. For more information, visit: www.army.mil/futures.