ASDHA
A Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
I am honored to join you as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and for the time being as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, expertise, and impact of the Military Health System (MHS), and I am committed to supporting and advancing our shared mission.
Having served 25 years as a Navy physician, I have a deep appreciation for the complexity of the military medical mission and the critical role each of you plays in ensuring the health and readiness of our service members, families, and retirees. My experience across combat, humanitarian, and disaster relief missions has reinforced the importance of a strong, integrated healthcare system – one that balances operational readiness with the highest quality of care.
My relationship to the MHS vastly transcends simply my professional association, however—I have a deep personal affection for the institution. Both of my children were born in an MTF, and the dedicated healthcare professionals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force have expertly and compassionately cared for my family for nearly 35 years.
Beyond uniformed service, my time as Chief Medical Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency and as a Congressional Fellow on the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce committee allowed me to remain deeply engaged in national security, health policy, and oversight of key agencies like CMS, FDA, CDC, and NIH. These roles have only strengthened my belief that the success of the MHS relies on collaboration, accountability, and a steadfast focus on our people.
In an ever changing and uncertain national security environment, we are again reminded that we bear the privilege and responsibility to honor the compact made between those who pledge to go into harm’s way: that should they become ill or injured, they will receive prompt and effective medical care whether on land, sea, air, or space.
We have a unique opportunity to confront the challenges that lay ahead and to take bold initiative. Our greatest strength, our most potent defense against our adversaries, is you. Your intellect, your ingenuity, your character, and your dedication will carry the day just as it has for nearly two-and-a-half centuries.
I look forward to all we will accomplish together as we continue to advance the health and readiness of our force. We are building on a strong foundation and will ensure that the MHS remains a model of excellence in military and civilian health care.
It’s an honor to serve with you. Your continued service and frequent sacrifices are truly inspirational.
Respectfully,
Stephen Ferrara, M.D.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Farewell Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
This week has been a challenging one for me personally, saying goodbye to all of you as I prepare to leave this position, and reflecting on all that we have accomplished together. My professional life has been intertwined with the military health community for decades, from serving as the Special Assistant to the ASD HA, to my time with what we then called the TRICARE Management Activity to the privilege I’ve had to serve now as the Acting ASD HA and I am profoundly grateful for that. I have gained far more than I have contributed, especially in the lifelong friendships I’ve made here.
I leave the office today confident in the foundation we’ve laid, confident in the people who will continue to serve, and confident in the ability of the Military Health System to take care of our people.
I believe that there is no higher calling in life than to serve others, and no better way to do that than federal service. So, to all of you, whether you serve in uniform, as a career federal civilian, as a political appointee, as a contractor, or as a combination of all of these, thank you for choosing to dedicate your talents to your country. I am proud to have served alongside you and will always be grateful for your friendship, your advice, and the support you have given me throughout my time here.
As I move into my next chapter, I know that these relationships will endure, and I look forward to keeping up with all you accomplish in the days to come. I wish each of you the very best.
V/R,
Seileen
Seileen M. Mullen
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Here is an article about her career as well:
A Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues-
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish each of you a safe, satisfying holiday. Even before Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November, Americans have been gathering in the autumn for harvest feasts and reflection. Whether you will be at home or traveling, cooking for a crowd, joining friends and family, watching football, or enjoying some solitude, please know that as I consider all that I have to be grateful for, you and all of the people of the MHS are high on that list. What you do every day is not easy, or often enough recognized, but it is vital to our mission to take care of people.
Please take a moment this week also to remember our colleagues who won’t have the day off, but instead will be on duty, providing emergency medical care and keeping our installations safe, and those who are stationed far from home. These quiet heroes deserve our gratitude and support.
Get some much-needed rest and relaxation this weekend and come back next week refreshed for the work ahead. As we navigate the next several weeks of change, I know each of you will be guided by your commitment to our mission and that the MHS will continue to provide the quality health care services our beneficiaries deserve.
Happy Thanksgiving!
VR,
Seileen
Seileen M. Mullen
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Warrior Care Month — A Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day on Monday, I wanted to highlight that November is Warrior Care Month. Mr. Ashish Vazarani, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, signed the attached memo reminding all of us of the importance of ensuring our wounded, ill, and injured Service members get the care they need.
The theme of Warrior Care Month is “Show of Strength.” We in the MHS bring our strength every day to this mission, and I’m grateful for all you do to support the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of our warriors.
More information on the resources available for warrior care can be found here: www.health.mil/WarriorCare
Happy Veterans Day – enjoy the day off while taking time to remember the sacrifices so many veterans have made for our nation.
VR,
Seileen
Seileen M. Mullen
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
Today begins my first full week of returning to the role of Acting ASD HA. I know you all share my appreciation and gratitude for Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez for his distinguished service, and wish him well in his retirement. It was a privilege to serve as his Principal Deputy, and now an honor to continue the work we began together. The responsibilities of this role are daunting, but I am heartened by the team we have in place and by my absolute confidence in you.
Dr. David Smith will once again assume the responsibilities of the Acting Principal Deputy ASD HA, and I thank him for his willingness to step into this role. Ms. Tracie Lattimore will be the Acting DASD for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight. Ms. Susan Orsega and Mr. Darryl Landreaux, current DASDs round out our leadership team, capably supported by all of you.
Whatever the results of the election tomorrow are, the challenges before the MHS will not change and we must stay the course, guided by our unwavering commitment to serving those entrusted to our care. With your help, the work we’ve begun to implement our strategy will continue, and the MHS will become stronger.
Finally, if you haven’t already voted, I urge you to exercise this most fundamental American right and let your voice be heard tomorrow at the polls.
Thank you again for all that you do in support of the Military Health System and our Warfighters. Your combined efforts truly make the difference.
V/R
Seileen
Seileen M. Mullen
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
Today is my last day as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and I can’t leave without expressing my gratitude to all of you for your support while I was privileged to serve in this office. The people of the Military Health System are its lifeblood – and we in military medicine know the meaning of that analogy! Without your talent, experience, and dedication, fulfilling our sacred mission to take care of our people would be impossible. Each of you have a variety of professional opportunities and options, and the fact that you have chosen service to our county, service to our mission, service to the people we are trusted to care for is something I don’t take for granted. Thank you.
The challenges facing our world, our nation, and our system are great. In my time here, I have worked to create a climate where candid assessment and truth telling is encouraged and rewarded. It’s not always easy, and within the MHS, we don’t always agree on how best to overcome challenges and make the most of opportunities. But to a person, we share a commitment to our mission, to delivering outstanding health care to everyone who depends on us, whether that’s in combat or at home. That sense of mission is what unites us, motivates us, and makes us an outstanding organization.
As Ms. Seileen Mullen once again answers the call, taking on the role of Acting ASD HA, I know that she can count on your continued support, advice, and energy. I’m confident that with her leadership, you will maintain and increase the momentum we’ve achieved together to stabilize and strengthen the MHS.
Again, I thank you for all you do every day, for all the support you generously provided to me, and I wish all of you the best.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues,
I am writing today to let you know that I will be leaving the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs at the end of this month. Serving you, and the people of this nation, for the past year and a half has been the privilege of my life and making this decision was not easy. I am enormously proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that you all are more than ready to fully implement the vision we’ve laid out to stabilize, sustain, and strengthen the Military Health System.
Ten months ago, the Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks issued a memo directing us to stabilize and improve the MHS with an emphasis on reattracting patients to our facilities. All parts of our system – the leaders in Health Affairs, in the Defense Health Agency and at the Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, along with the Services and all our partners – have come together in historic fashion to begin this process and I am very grateful for all you’ve done. There is much to be done to fully achieve this objective – from becoming a requirements-based system, to improving staffing and increasing capacity.
As you look to the work ahead, I leave you in the capable hands of my Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Ms. Seileen Mullen and our superlative Deputy Assistant Secretaries: Dr. David Smith, Mr. Darryl Landreaux, and Ms. Susan Orsega. I know they can count on you for continued support.
I look forward to saying goodbye to as many of you as I can in the coming two weeks, and to following your work in the months and years ahead.
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
A Message from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
Colleagues:
I suspect that many of you share my surprise that the summer is already drawing to a close – these past few months have flown by, with long days but short weeks! I know a big part of that is the fact that the pace of our work, far from slowing down over the summer, has remained at a high tempo. I thank each of you for helping me maintain the momentum we’ve worked so hard to generate as we move our strategy forward.
Some of the highlights of the summer include continued site visits to MHS facilities around the world, where I have seen first-hand the challenges we face and learned more about what we need to do to reattract our patient base and stabilize the MHS. I’m encouraged by the developments discussed at the Digital Frontiers Summit last month, and by our continued collaboration with other agencies such as Veterans Affairs and the Food and Drug Administration. As I engage with Members of Congress on a host of issues of concern, I am more and more convinced that the solutions to many of these topics require a “whole of government” approach. Joining forces with our interagency partners strengthens all of us as we develop unified solutions.
Last week, I attended the Defense Health Information Technology Symposium, and this week I’ll close out the month at the Military Health System Research Symposium. Spending time with our technology-focused teammates and our world-class research community is always enlightening and confirms my confidence in our ability to take a systems approach to fulfilling our mission.
Many of our students are already back in school, including the incoming classes at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. This time of year is a busy one for our MTFs, with school physicals, vaccinations, and the inevitable spread of illnesses that happen once people are back in classrooms. Please take an extra minute or two to thank our providers for the excellent care they provide throughout the year to our servicemembers, retirees, and their families.
Enjoy the last few days of summer, and as always, stay safe!
Very Respectfully,
Lester
Lester Martínez-López, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
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