The U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, visited the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity on Oct. 28th to recognize product development efforts aiding in the health and safety of the Warfighter and to convey his well wishes to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick during his farewell tour.

"It is a great honor to have the Surgeon General here," said Col. Russell E. Coleman, commander of USAMMDA. "As you all know he is a [Walter Reed Army Institute of Research] alumnus, so he has a warm place in his heart for basic research."

After a hearty laugh, Coleman went on to point out that as a former USAMRMC commander, Schoomaker is well aware of the important role USAMMDA plays in the advanced development of products.

"People are what make us the great organization that we are," said Schoomaker. "USAMMDA is an extraordinarily talented organization--one that I've always had enormous pride in representing."

Schoomaker acknowledged five product managers with the Surgeon General's challenge coin:

• Maj. Gina Adam for her work with the Field Assistance in Science & Technology team in Iraq
• Dr. Smita Bhonsale for her work at the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine
• Scott Doughty for his work as the deputy director of the Pharmaceutical Systems Project Management Office and all the years of service as a product manager and mentor to product managers
• Jaime Lee for all the work he has accomplished in the Medical Support Systems Project Management Office addressing problems in the field and getting solutions to the Warfighters
• Dr. Cliff Snyder for his work on the adenovirus vaccine

Coleman thanked Schoomaker for honoring the individual accomplishments.

"These folks all deserve the honor immensely, but they are backed up by a lot of other people," said Coleman.

Coleman recognized several groups for their accomplishments, including the freeze-dried plasma team, the adenovirus vaccine team, the AFIRM, HBO2, the Medical Countermeasures Test & Evaluation Facility, the Neurotrauma and Physiological Health Project Management Office, and the Medical Support Systems Project Management Office.

"Seventy-five percent of the Force in uniform came in after 9/11 knowing that they are going to war," said Schoomaker. "To convince a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine to do what they have to do, go to some of the places we ask the men and women to go, then we owe them everything we can do to keep them safe in the first place through vaccines and other protective devices."

As Schoomaker left, he commended USAMMDA for its part in maintaining the health and safety of the Nation and the fighting Force.