ALCOAST 060/19 - FEB 2019 SELECTION OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD

R 250710 FEB 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01401//
ALCOAST 060/19
COMDTNOTE 1401
SUBJ: SELECTION OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD
A. MOU between USPHS and USCG DTD 3 JUL 85
1. I am pleased to announce that I have asked the Surgeon General to assign
CAPT Dana L. Thomas, USPHS, as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the
U.S. Coast Guard / Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life (HSWL), and to
promote her to Rear Admiral (upper half), upon assumption of these duties.
CAPT Thomas will relieve RADM Erica G. Schwartz on 1 March 2019, upon
RADM Schwartz’s transfer to the Department of Health and Human Service to
serve as the Deputy Surgeon General.
2. A joint USPHS and Coast Guard selection panel considered eligible applicants
serving in the regular USPHS corps in the grade of O-6 through O-8. The panel
recommended three top candidates for further consideration. After a careful
review of each record, I selected CAPT Dana Thomas for this assignment.
3. Presently, CAPT Thomas is serving as the Medical Director of Emergency
Preparedness for the New Jersey Department of Health. CAPT Thomas knows the Coast
Guard well, having served in the Coast Guard as the Chief of Occupational Medicine
and the Senior Aeromedical Consultant at the Personnel Service Center. Her executive
leadership, management, and extensive health care background make her the perfect
selection as our next CMO and I welcome her as a member of our senior leadership team.
I know that she is personally committed to the well-being of our people, ensuring our
HSWL program and services will remain relevant, ready and responsive.
4. Admiral Karl L. Schultz, Commandant, sends.
5. Internet release is authorized.