Lodi Passes Command to Jenkins at U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command

FORT DETRICK, Md. – As the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC) continues to advance critical medical capabilities for the warfighter, strong and experienced leadership remains essential. That leadership transition was on full display July 10 during a heartfelt Change of Command ceremony at Fort Detrick, marking both the culmination of Maj. Gen. Paula Lodi's 36-year Army career and the assumption of command by Brig. Gen. Constance Jenkins.

During the ceremony, Jenkins assumed command of Defense Health Agency Research and Development– Medical Research and Development Command (DHA R&D-MRDC), while also taking on responsibilities as Director of Research and Development for the Defense Health Agency and Senior Commander at Fort Detrick. The event underscored the Army's tradition of stewardship, where senior leaders entrust another experienced leader with carrying an organization forward through a shared commitment to those who serve. The traditional passing of the colors served as a visible reminder that the commitment to the warfighter and the pursuit of the mission remain constant.

Lt. Gen. Michael McCurry, commanding general of U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command, presided over the ceremony, formally transferring command authority and responsibility.

For Lodi, the Change of Command ceremony marked the culmination of a distinguished 36-year career in the Army as a 70H – Health Services Plans, Operations, Intelligence, Security, and Training officer. Having spent much of her career in medical operations, taking on the responsibility of leading MRDC required expanding her understanding of research and development – learning from each direct reporting unit within the command and leading effectively through change.

"To the people of MRDC, your patience, guidance, expertise, and graciousness simply enabled my ability to lead and for that I am forever grateful," said Lodi. "I pride myself on being commander-centric with a mission-focused philosophy, but even I know that in order to give our institutes room to grow, there must be an enabling and functioning headquarters with a high-performing staff to underpin operations. Amidst the challenges over the past two years, MRDC, your ability to evolve and your unfailing support of the mission was nothing short of inspirational."

Reflecting on DHA R&D-MRDC's transformation over the past two years to meet the evolving needs of the Department of War, McCurry emphasized Lodi's lasting impact.

"Paula, for two years you and your team have led the Army's efforts to combat threats to soldiers' health, optimize soldier performance, build resilience, respond to world events, and enhance operational effectiveness, all of which in turn makes our Army lethal," said McCurry. "Thank you for your service to the men and women of MRDC and for your 36 years of dedicated service to our soldiers, our Army, and our nation."

As Lodi's tenure came to a close, the ceremony turned toward the future under Jenkins' leadership. In selecting the organization's next leader, McCurry said he consulted with Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Mary Izaguirre and quickly knew Jenkins was the right choice.

"Brigadier General Jenkins is eminently qualified and prepared to lead this phenomenal team of teams to the next level of excellence," said McCurry. "Built on more than 200 years of clinical, administrative, and technological innovation in military medicine, this command follows the tradition of protecting the lethality of the force through health that was initially established under George Washington during the smallpox outbreak of the American Revolution."

The organization and its mission are familiar to Jenkins, who previously commanded the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), a direct reporting unit of DHA R&D-MRDC and one of the Army's most visible and specialized medical research organizations.

Before assuming command, Jenkins served in senior leadership roles across Army medicine, most recently as Chief of Staff for U.S. Army Medical Command. Those assignments gave her an enterprise-wide perspective on the operational, strategic, and institutional needs of military medicine. Her background spans operational medicine, senior Army medicine leadership, and command of a major research institute, providing deep experience in translating specialized science into capabilities that support real-world military missions.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Jenkins was commissioned in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps and later served as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Her service as a nurse anesthetist, including deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, gave her firsthand perspective on the importance of operationally relevant medical capabilities for deployed forces.

Jenkins thanked McCurry and Izaguirre for their trust and confidence and said she was honored to return to DHA R&D-MRDC.

"MRDC occupies a unique place in medical science, delivering capabilities for the future fight and enhancing the readiness and survivability of our joint force, from protecting against infectious diseases and emerging biological threats to advancing combat casualty care and developing the next generation of medical capabilities," said Jenkins. "I'm energized by the opportunities ahead, by the chance to build on this legacy, strengthen connections across the enterprise, and continue forging the future of military medicine in support of those who serve our nation."

For Jenkins and her family, the occasion was also personal. She noted that she and her husband, Tom – a retired police officer and former infantry drill sergeant – are grateful to be back in Frederick.

"For Tom and me, this assignment is also a homecoming. We're grateful for the return to a place that has long held a special place in our hearts. We look forward to reconnecting with friends, rejoining the community, and strengthening the relationships that make it so meaningful," she said.

As Jenkins takes command, DHA R&D-MRDC continues a legacy of military medical innovation that stretches from the Revolutionary War to today's research on infectious disease, combat casualty care, human performance, and future battlefield medicine. Scientists, engineers, clinicians, and support staff across the organization remain focused on delivering medical capabilities for the future fight and enhancing the readiness and survivability of the joint force through infectious disease research, emerging biological threat response, and development of next-generation medical solutions.

Under Jenkins' leadership, the organization is positioned to continue delivering capabilities that protect the force and strengthen readiness across the joint warfighting enterprise – carrying forward the proud legacy of those who have led and served at DHA R&D-MRDC, while opening a new chapter in military medical research and development.