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Vol. 32, No. 6 March 20, 2015

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Social Media What’s Inside

A Week in the Life of a GEMSStudent, p. 4

Army Researchers Return toNorway for Nutrition, p. 5

NMLC’s DFA, Promoted toLieutenant Commander, p. 6

RAMIN A. KHALILIUSAMRMC CCCRP

KNOWLEDGE MANAGER

After 10 minutes of siftingthrough the files on her computer,Dr. Tamara Crowder threw up herhands in mock frustration.

“There’s just so much goingon,” she said. “The stuff we’re do-ing with traumatic brain injuryright now - there’s just so much.”

Crowder, the Neurotrauma andTraumatic Brain Injury portfoliomanager with the Combat CasualtyCare Research Program, explainedthat a recent spike in brain healthawareness by both the federal gov-ernment and the general publichas led to an increase in scholarlyresearch within her field.

“This is what people are talkingabout,” said Crowder, regardingthe visibility boost such efforts havereceived during this year’s NationalBrain Injury Awareness Month, ob-served annually in March.

A recent study by the DefenseHealth Agency showed that deathscaused by hemorrhage droppedmore than 11 percent over thepast decade, while deaths causedby TBI increased slightly. Further,government statistics show thathead injuries trail only incidents ofhemorrhage as the leading causeof death on the battlefield.

According to Crowder, cur-rent hot topics in her portfolioinclude blast-related TBI (“theproblem is that people aren’t re-covering fast enough”) and sub-

concussive events (“like, for in-stance, when a child hits a soccerball with their head consistentlyover time”). However, she pointsto other, more in-depth efforts asbeing more integral to the futureof brain health research.

The recently-completed Pro-gressive Return to Action studyultimately allowed for the cre-ation of a series of clinical recom-mendations intended to provide amore gradual, progressive returnto military activity following anincident of TBI. The PRA’s codi-fied daily medical assessmentswere initiated, in part, due to thevarious and unknown effects ofbrain injury.

“It’s not like breaking yourarm,” said Crowder of the reason-

ing behind the study and its ac-

companying recommendations.

“You [can] get hit in different parts

of the brain, so it’s hard to tell

what that impact does - and what

it means for the long term.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing $17

million TBI Endpoints Develop-

ment study integrates the existing

data sets from thousands of TBI

patients into a singular “Metadata-

set” that will be analyzed to iden-

tify effective clinical outcome as-

sessments and biomarkers for TBI.

“This is the time to be talking

about TBI,” added Crowder, again,

before rifling through yet another

file on her computer.

Brain Health Under the Microscope in March

According to the Defense Cen-ters of Excellence, nearly 1.7million people sustain a trau-matic brain injury every year inAmerica.

Photo courtesy of DCOE

USAMRMC Participates in Capitol Hill Eventto Increase Brain Injury Awareness

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Com-mand participates in the 14th annual Brain InjuryAwareness Day on Capitol Hill, March 18. The eventis organized by the Congressional Brain Injury TaskForce and the Brain Injury Association of America.Representatives from the USAMRMCwere part of anAwareness Fair in the 1st floor foyer of the RayburnBuilding, in which more than 50 organizations werepresent. Col. Dallas Hack, senior medical advisorto the principal assistant for research and technol-ogy; Lt. Col. Chessley Atchison, programmanager,science and technology objective: brain in combat;Dr. Tammy Crowder, neurotrauma programman-ager with the USAMRMC’s Combat Casualty CareResearch Program; and Ana Gamero, science andcongressional advisor, were on hand to speak withrepresentatives from Congress and industry in sup-port of brain injury awareness.

Photos by Chelsea Bauckman, USAMRMC Public Affairs

2 Fort Detrick StandardMarch 20, 2015 Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

Command StaffMaj. Gen. Brian C. Lein

Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical

Research and Materiel Command

and Fort Detrick

Col. Steven P. MiddlecampU.S. Army Garrison Commander

Editorial StaffMelissa Myers

USAMRMC/Fort Detrick PAO

The STANDARD is an authorized unofficial newspaper,published every two weeks under the provisions of AR360-1 for the military and civilians at Fort Detrick. Circula-tion is 7,000. The STANDARD is a commercial enterprisenewspaper printed by Comprint Military Publications, 9030Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., 20877, a private firm,in no way connected with the United States Government orDepartment of Defense. The contents of the STANDARD donot necessarily reflect the official views or endorsement ofthe U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S.Army. The appearance of advertising in this publication, in-cluding inserts and supplements, do not constitute endorse-

ment of DoD. Everything advertised in this publication shallbe made available for purchase, use or patronage withoutregard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or anyother nonmerit characteristic of the purchaser, user or patron.Editorial content is prepared and edited by the Fort DetrickPublic Affairs Office, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Md.21702-5000. Editorial Offices are in Bldg. 810, Suite 004,telephone 301-619-2018; e-mail: [email protected].

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After Duty NumbersImportant After Duty Hour Numbers

The Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service has released a newsflashregarding a potential scam by a benefits and retirement planning company:Government Employee Services. The scam intends to use misinformation,as well as fear, about the Affordable Care Act and its impact on the FederalEmployees Health Benefit Program to influence Federal employees to buytheir services.

For more information regarding the potential scam, read the full news-flash at: https://www.abc.army.mil/misc/newsflash_qa.pdf.

You should always beware of calls, mailings or emails seeking to “help”you with your Federal benefits. If you receive correspondence like this, con-tact your Civilian Personnel Advisory Center if you are not sure whether ornot the correspondence came from your Agency.

Potential Scam TargetingFederal Employees

HEATHER MCDOWELL DUONGUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Members of the U.S. Army Medical Research andMateriel Command honored staff that played a key rolehelping the Army and the Department of Defense meetits medical materiel needs at the command’s annualDecision Gate ceremony at Fort Detrick, Maryland,March 4.

Army medicine is charged with getting the rightproducts to the field faster and cost effectively. To dothis, the USAMRMC developed an acquisition pro-cess, called Decision Gate, which combines industrybest practices with Department of Defense acquisi-tion protocols.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Kenneth Bertram, thePrincipal Assistant for Acquisition, discussed how,in a climate of budget constraints, organizations arebeing called upon to defend programs. He said thatthe USAMRMC’s Decision Gate process was not “justanother paperwork drill.” Bertram explained that theprocess validates the command’s development efforts,which in turn enables program evaluators to focus onthe value of products as opposed to exerting time andresources ensuring a product works.

“We’re better off at the finish line,” said PrincipalAssistant for Research and Technology Dr. John Fra-zier Glenn of team efforts. “The Decision Gate processleverages and harnesses our power to guide our workforward.”

Bertram and Glenn presented awards to winners inthe following eight categories:

- Andy Atkinson, U.S. ArmyMedical Materiel Devel-opment Activity - IPT Chair of the Year

- Kevin Comegys and Matthew Teel, U.S. ArmyMedical Research Acquisition Activity - IPT Membersof the Year

- Maj. Vanessa Melanson, Walter Reed Army Insti-tute of Research - Best Brief of the Year

- Steven Hawbecker, U.S. Army Medical MaterielDevelopment Activity - Product Lifecycle Review Com-mittee Chair of the Year

- Diane Ullman and Kathy Berst, USAMMDA - Deci-sion Gate Advocate of the Year

- Leishmania Rapid Diagnostic Device IntegratedProject Team, IPT of the Year

- Junctional Hemorrhage Control Agent IPT - Rook-

ie IPT of the Year- Plans, Programs, Analysis and Evaluation’s Small

Business Innovation ResearchOffice - Best Staff SupportThe USAMRMC’s Decision Gate process leverages

multifunctional teams at each phase of research anddevelopment to plan, execute and review USAMRMCproduct development efforts. The method is designedto identify problems and risks early in the product de-velopment cycle, when they aremost easily solved. TheDirector, Plans, Programs, Analysis and Evaluation ex-ecutes the Decision Gate for the USAMRMC.

USAMRMCDecision Gate AwardsSpotlight Acquisition Excellence

Principal Assistant for Acquisition Dr. Kenneth Bertram (left) and Principal Assistant for Researchand Technology Dr. John Frazier Glenn (right) honor Decision Gate awardees at a ceremony March 4at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The USAMRMC developed its acquisition process, Decision Gate, to get theright products to the field faster and cost effectively.

Photo by Heather McDowell Duong, USAMRMC Public Affairs

3Fort Detrick StandardMarch 20, 2015Sustaining a community of excellence through restoration, environmental stewardship and workforce development

The National Interagency Confed-eration for Biological Research SpringResearch Festival is requesting mem-bers of the community to sign up as aposter judge. When you share your timein venues, such as the Spring ResearchFestival, it promotes collaborationamong established scientists and setsa standard for our young researchers toemulate.

A large part of the festival revolvesaround poster presentation. We en-courage all individuals, including tech-nical staff, postdoctoral fellows, staffscientists and senior staff to participateas judges.

At this time, we expect the poster

numbers to be >100 and it is our goalto have every poster evaluated bytwo judges.

Please visit the SRF website and clickon “judging”. There you will find moredetailed information alongwith the scoresheet to be used.

Please register to be a judge at:ht tps ://nc i f reder ick .cancer .gov/Events/Srf/JudgingCriteria.aspx.

Note: You will need a username andpassword to enter this site. Please cre-ate a log-in if you do not already haveone. If you are encountering technicaldifficulties, please contact C&SS at (301)846-5115 and someone will help you.

Spring Research FestivalJudges Needed!

NICK MINECCIUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Major Gen. Merritte W.Ireland was born on May31, 1867, in Columbia City,Indiana. Ireland gradu-ated from Detroit Collegeof Medicine in 1890 with aDoctor of Medicine degree,then later attended Jeffer-son Medical College whereagain he was given a secondDoctor of Medicine degreein 1891. He then joined theU.S. Army with a distin-guished four decade careerthat would see him becomethe 23rd Surgeon Generalof the U.S. Army, a post hewould hold for 13 years.

After years of movingaround to places like FortApache, Arizona; Fort Stan-ton, New Mexico; BeniciaBarracks, California; andYosemite National Park inYosemite Village, California;Ireland was ordered to thePresidio of San Franciscoin January of 1898, wherehe was stationed during theoutbreak of the Spanish-American War.

While Ireland was servingon the southern border U.S.troops were gathering alongthe Rio Grande and the Pu-nitive Expedition into Mexi-co, led by Brig. Gen. John J.Pershing, launched. Whena state of war was declared

with Germany on April 6,1917, Pershing assembled hisstaff for the high commandin France and chose Irelandfor the post of chief surgeon;however, The Surgeon Gen-eral selected Col. Alfred E.Bradley for the position in-stead. Ireland sailed withGeneral Pershing for Franceas first assistant to Bradleyand served in that capacityuntil Pershing later was com-pelled to give up his office inApril 1918 on account of illhealth; promoting Ireland tochief surgeon. As assistantand head of the service inthe American ExpeditionaryForce his administrative andprofessional abilities wonthe Pershing’s highest praise.

Ireland was appointedSurgeon General with thegrade of major general onOct. 4, 1918. Ireland arrivedinNewYork onOct. 28, takingthe oath of office on Oct. 30.

Ireland spent a greatdeal of time replacing thetemporary wartime medicalfacilities with permanenthospital structures; boththe Walter Reed and Letter-man General Hospitals wererebuilt and completed. TheWilliam Beaumont GeneralHospital in El Paso, Texas,was built and put into op-eration July 1, 1921. Thedevelopment of the ArmyMedical Center was another

notable achievement of thisperiod. A further develop-ment was the creation onMay 15, 1920, of the MedicalField Service School at Carl-isle Barracks, Pennsylvania,where officers and enlistedmen were instructed inmedico-military matters,administration, tactics, fieldsanitation, work with fieldunits, map-making, equita-tion, motor mechanism andkindred topics. The thirdtropical disease board wasestablished in Manila in thespring of 1922.

Ireland earned the totalconfidence of the GeneralStaff and of the militarycommittees of the SenateandHouse, and reappointedas The Surgeon General onOct. 30, 1922, again on Oct.30, 1926, and finally on Oct.30, 1930, until he retired onMay 31, 1931, by reason ofreaching the statutory age.

WhoWas the IrelandTrail Named After?

PhotocourtesyofNationalArchives

SHANNON BISHOPUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Though National CyberSecurity Awareness monthis officially recognized inOctober, it is a topic that isrelevant to the Fort Detrickcommunity 24/7.

The National Cyber Se-curity Alliance shares onits official page that cybersecurity is about ensuringthat “every American hasthe resources they need tostay safer and more secureonline.” For the Fort Detrickcommunity, cyber securitymeans taking the necessarymeasures to ensure nationalsecurity interests as well asprotect personally identifi-able information.

As the weather getswarmer, we all spend moretime outdoors. Anytime youleave your work station, it isimportant to remember tofollow all security practicesthat are currently in place,including removing yourcommon access card any-time you leave your desk,even for a minute, and not

having your CAC cards vis-ible when off post.

“I think that individualusers are the first line ofdefense for cyber security,”said Brent Hunter, chief ofthe Information AssuranceDivision at the Network En-terprise Center. “We have anannual requirement to takeCyber Security Awarenesstraining in order to gain andkeep access to the network.The training is designed toprovide users with basic cy-ber security principles. Us-ers have to be aware of, andpractice, these principles ona daily basis to help protectthe Army network.”

Additional security prac-tices include:

-Never leave classified in-formation or classified com-puters/equipment/hard-ware unattended, unless itis located in a formally ap-proved Open Storage Area.

-Do not use your Com-munications Closets as stor-age areas.

-Ensure you are follow-ing your unit’s SecurityStandard Operating Pro-

cedures, particularly thoseinvolving end-of-duty daychecks.

-Know who your securitymanager and information as-surance support officer are.

-We recommend thatyou log onto your securenetwork multiple times perweek to keep your securitypatches up to date.

-Never open an email at-tachment from unknown/unverified senders.

-Protect all sensitive andPIIby encrypting e-mail andfiles.

Hunter continued, “Us-ers should be aware of whotheir information assurancesupport officer/securitymanager is for their organi-zation and what the organi-zations incident responseplan is. This information iscritical if users suspect theirsystems have been compro-mised or if they see some-thing that looks suspicious.”

For more informationabout cyber security, visithttp://www.arcyber.army.mil/cyber-awareness.html.

Recognizing CyberSecurity Awareness 24/7

RAMIN A. KHALILIUSAMRMC CCCRP

KNOWLEDGE MANAGER

When describing a newdevice designed to measurethe brain’s electrical activityafter injury, Col. Dallas Hackcut through all the details toget straight to the point ofwhy the Army needed an-other tool in its arsenal.

“It addresses the ‘gaparea’ of non-invasive testsfor brain injury,” said Hack.

Hack, the Brain Health/

Fitness Research Programcoordinator for the U.S.Army Medical Research andMateriel Command, ex-plained that when Soldiersfall in training or endure ablast on the battlefield, theirinjuries are not always vis-ible. However, clinicianshave historically had few ob-jective ways to test for braininjury, especially non-in-vasive testing that providesobjective results.

The Ahead 100, whichreceived clearance from theU.S. Food and Drug Admin-istration in November 2014,is a headband-shaped devicethat measures a patient’selectroencephalogram sig-nals, or brain electrical ac-tivity. A clinician interpretsthe testing and results.

“The original conceptwas simple,” said MichaelSinger, the president andCEO of BrainScope Com-

Device to Measure Brain’sElectrical Activity After

Injury Receives FDA Clearance

See MEASURE, continued on page 7

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com


LISA MORRISUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Applications for the 2015 FortDetrick Gains in the Education ofMathematics and Science programhave opened to students for the10th year.

As a summer Science, Technol-ogy, Engineering andMathematicsenrichment program, GEMS cre-ates hands-on opportunities for el-ementary, middle and high schoolstudents as well as college studentsand teachers.

Students in grades four through12 may apply for any one of the sixweeks with seven classes to choosefrom for the Fort Detrick program.

“The focus of the GEMS pro-gram is to touch on all of the STEMcategories and to get students ex-cited about STEM and to ignitea passion to find out more,” saidLauren Beeson, educational con-sultant and program coordinatorfor Fort Detrick’s GEMS program.

Last year, the Fort DetrickGEMS program accepted 500 outof 1,000 applicants. This year, theprogramwill accept approximately525 students.

“Application selection is compet-itive,” saidBeeson. “It’s not basedonprevious attendance or how earlyyou apply. We’re looking for origi-nality and genuine interest.”

So, what is a week in the life of atypical GEMS student like? Continuereading for a snapshot of the creativeand experimental summers Fort De-trick GEMS students experience.

The Fort Detrick GEMS pro-gram requires a significant amountof cooperation and coordinationfrom many different groups. Theprogram’s success depends onmany roles, including subject mat-ter expert volunteers of Soldiers,civilians and contractors to spendtime with the students in a varietyof ways, from having lunch with

them to talk about their passionfor STEM and their careers to as-sisting the near-peer mentors withadvanced concepts and training.

“Every year brings somethingnew and exciting,” said Beeson.“We always get students who havenever done it before and otherswho return to do a new class. Nomatter if new or returning, the joyand enthusiasm on their faces areexactly the same. They’re just ex-cited to be there.”

To apply as a student for the FortDetrick GEMS program, visit www.usaeop.com/apply, click the “FortDetrick, MD (MRMC-HQ)” link andclick “Apply.” Applications will re-main open until April 15.

To apply as a subject matterexpert for the Fort Detrick GEMSprogram, visit http://stem.amedd.army.mil/index.cfm/opportuni-ties/volunteer to fill out a volun-teer form.

A Week in the Life of a GEMS StudentCLASS: INTERMEDIATE,SEVENTHGRADE

Day 1Students arrive in the morn-

ing at Hood College, host loca-tion for the Fort Detrick GEMSprogram. Theymeet all resourceteachers and near-peer mentorsand receive lab safety instruc-tions along with daily schedules.

After the preliminary morn-ing congregation, students goto their appropriate classroomswith their near-peer mentorsand begin with an icebreaker.Then, they jump right into thefirst activity of collecting insectsand learning how to use a di-chotomous key to identify andclassify them.

In the afternoon, studentsreceive an introduction to New-ton’s laws of motion as theycirculate through different labstations including activities,such as blowing up balloonswhile changing the angle of airflow; racing cars on differentlevel ramp heights and compar-ing the distance the cars travel;and performing the “tableclothtrick,” in which they test pullinga tablecloth out from under ob-jects of different weights with-out disturbing them.

Day 2Students listen to a career

speaker in themorning. The FortDetrick GEMS program pro-vides a variety of career speak-ers throughout the program. Inthe past, representatives from

the following various agencieshave volunteered their time: theFederal Bureau of Investigation,the U.S. Army Medical ResearchInstitute of Infectious Diseases,the Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory,the Armed Forces Institute ofRegenerative Medicine, the Na-tional Institute of Allergy and In-fectious Diseases, the NationalCancer Institute, the U.S. ArmyCenter of Environmental HealthResearch and the Telemedicineand Advanced Technology Re-search Center.

After returning to their class-rooms, students extract DNAfrom the insects they collectedthe day before. They learn sev-eral lab skills, including gramstaining, pipette skills, steriletechnique and swabbing forbacteria that is grown overnight.

In the afternoon, studentsbegin building custom rockets,keeping in mind the principlesthey learned from Newton’slaws. By the end of the day, theysubmit their rocket designs totheir near-peer mentors.

Day 3After listening to a second

career speaker in the morning,students return to their class-rooms and amplify the extractedDNA of the insects using a Poly-merase Chain Reaction.

Students continue buildingtheir rockets in the afternoon.They paint, install motors anddevelop team and rocket names.

They learn how to determine theapogee, or highest point, of sev-eral objects as practice for theircalculations during their up-coming rocket launches.

Day 4Students go straight to their

classrooms on the final day.They run the DNA they ampli-fied the day before out on a gelto determine if any of their in-sects have the Wolbachia bac-teria, a common parasite thatinfects a high proportion of in-sects. If students do find a posi-tive sample, they get to send thesample to the Marine Biologi-cal Laboratory in Woods Hole,Massachusetts, to include in theMBL’s national study that trackshow the bacteria infects its hostsand where the infection occursthroughout the U.S.

Students also launch theirrockets from the courtyard ofHood College and collect datafrom the launches.

Finally, students participatein a graduation ceremony atwhich they receive certificatesof completion, a guest speaker,a video presentation and aneducational stipend of $100 forthe week.

At the end of the gradua-tion ceremony, program lead-ers invite everyone to visit theclassrooms and see some of theprojects the students work onthroughout the week.

A Fort Detrick Gains in theEducation of Mathematics andScience program intermediatestudent measures water with agraduated cylinder to performa serial dilution.

Photo courtesy ofFort Detrick GEMS program

LISA MORRISUSAMRMC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Master Sgt. Melvin D. Miltonreenlisted in the U.S. Army at aceremony March 13 where he re-ceived a promotion from sergeantfirst class.

Milton, from San Diego, Cali-fornia, has served in the Army for15 years. He began his career asa combat medic at Fort Benning,Georgia, with the 3rd Infantry Di-vision. Having had the opportuni-ties to serve in both field and non-field environments throughoutthe course of his career, Miltonhas proven himself as a versatileSoldier.

Currently serving as the opera-tions non-commissioned officerfor the Deputy Chief of Staff forOperations at the U.S. Army Medi-cal Research and Materiel Com-mand, Milton attributes a largepart of his success to his Soldiers.

“I’m humbled by this promo-tion. Promotions are good for thepotential, but you don’t ever gethere alone, so you always have togive thanks to the Soldiers whodo a lot of the work for you andto your mentors,” said Milton. “Apromotion is for you, but it’s moreof a team effort.”

Milton prefers to serve in com-bat settings despite their challeng-es because they offer him a level ofdiscipline not found in other situ-ations.

His most rewarding experienc-es to date involve the lives of hisSoldiers.

“It’s most fulfilling for me tosee my Soldiers succeed, get pro-moted, have healthy families - tosee them getting degrees and justsetting them up for the future,”said Milton.

Milton, his wife and their threechildren approach the two-yearmark at Fort Detrick.

Sergeant First Class Receives Master Sergeant Promotion

Master Sgt. Melvin D. Milton, with his wife Nitikka, reenlists in the U.S. Army with Lt. Col. Paul J.Davis prior to pinning on the rank of master sergeant. Photo by Nick Minecci, USAG Public Affairs


KELLY FIELDUSARIEM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The U.S. Army Research Institute of En-vironmental Medicine once again partneredwith the Norwegian Defence Research Es-tablishment to study nutrition and physi-ological responses to cold-weather training.

For the second time in three years, re-searchers from the USARIEM traveled toNorway to study Norwegian Soldiers partic-ipating in cold-weather training. About 75Norwegian Soldiers, from the 2nd Battalion,Brigade North, Norwegian Army, stationedon Skjold Garrison enrolled in this random-ized controlled trial.

“The results of our last study showed thatshort-term winter training alters nutritionalrequirements,” said Dr. Stefan Pasiakos, anutritional physiologist with the USARIEM’sMilitary Nutrition Division. “We observeddecrements in several markers of nutrition-al status, including protein retention, sug-gesting muscle mass is compromised duringshort-term military training in the cold.”

Pasiakos said this gave researchers theinformation they needed to design a target-ed nutrition intervention to attenuate thoseeffects in Soldiers participating in a similarwinter training program. The research teamexpected to produce physiological decre-ments that mirrored those observed in theirlast study.

“Our primary objective was to determinethe efficacy of an optimized recovery foodproduct designed for combat rations,” saidPasiakos. “We were trying to identify waysto effectively use nutrition to promote re-covery and resistance to muscle loss duringmilitary operational stress.”

Pasiakos said that often times Soldierscan experience severe calorie decrementsduring training because they either quicklystrip down rations and remove food withnutritional value because they do not wantto carry the extra weight, or they simply donot have the time to eat all the food theyare given. For example, Soldiers threw awayabout a third of their food rations, causinga severe calorie deficit throughout trainingduring Pasiakos’ previous study in Norway.

Researchers divided the Soldiers intothree intervention groups, aimed at test-ing whether supplementing existing ra-tions with a protein or carbohydrate-basedsnack product would improve these variousmarkers of nutritional status. The USARIEMpartnered with the Natick Soldier Research,Development and Engineering Center’sCombat Feeding Directorate to develop and

create nearly 5,000 snack products for usein this study.

“The groups were each given their stan-dard combat ration allotment for their train-ing exercise. One group served as the con-trol and received no additional food,” saidPasiakos. “The other groups received theirthree rations plus four either carbohydrateor protein-based snacks, like a First StrikeRation bar or a crispy rice bar.

“By providing easily accessible snacks,we were trying to see to what extent wecould actually offset the physiological dec-rements that occur during severe caloriedeficit. If we are able to develop a foodproduct that Soldiers like to eat and alsopromotes recovery, this would allow us tomake some positive changes to our combatrations,” said Pasiakos.

USARIEM researchers also examined the

risk of frostbite on peripheral areas such asthe fingers, wrists, calves and toes. Dr. JohnCastellani, a research physiologist with theUSARIEM’s Thermal and Mountain Medi-cine Division, said these areas are the mostsusceptible to frostbite, but they are theleast understood.

“Currently, we have limited informationon finger and toe skin temperatures in thefield or in an operational setting,” said Cas-tellani. “The information that we collectedis important because it will allow us to buildbiophysical models that will enable Soldiersto choose the correct cold-weather clothingensembles as well as evaluate if the Army’scold-weather doctrine for injury preventionis accurate.”

“This study will enable the USARIEM toprovide Soldiers with practical solutions inextreme environmental temperatures so thatthey continue to perform their mission witha low risk of cold injury,” said Castellani.

Both Pasiakos and Castellani said thesetypes of field studies are extremely impor-tant for them as scientists because they pro-vide a level of reality that cannot be re-cre-ated in the laboratory. While the informa-tion collected during this trip is just begin-ning to be analyzed, USARIEM researchersare excited for the results.

“Typically, field studies give us the mostrealistic model to test our hypotheses. Whenmilitary units provide us the opportunity toconduct a study, our mission is to executestrong science without being disruptiveto their operations,” said Pasiakos. “TheUSARIEM has a long history of doing justthat and, most importantly, it gives us theoperationally relevant evidence we need toimprove science and, ultimately, Warfighterhealth and performance.”

Army Researchers Return to Norway forNutrition, Cold-Stress Study in Arctic Extremes

For the second time in three years, researchers from the U.S. Army ResearchInstitute of Environmental Medicine partner with the Norwegian DefenceResearch Establishment to study nutrition and physiological responses to cold-weather training.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

PAUL BELLONATIONAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH

AND MEDICINE

A glimpse into Vietnam War medicineand the creation of the “Medical Museum,2nd Surgical Hospital” was provided Feb.24 to attendees at the February 2015 Medi-cal Museum Science Café at the NationalMuseum of Health and Medicine. Dr. Nor-man Rich, a retired U.S. Army surgeon andthe program’s guest speaker, establishedthe traveling medical museum while serv-ing as chief of surgery at the hospital in AnKhe, Vietnam.

During his tour of duty, which began atthe mobile Army hospital in 1965, Rich col-lected items such as punji sticks (a type ofwooden stake made of sharpened bamboo),bullets, fragments from explosive devices andother objects from patients he treated, as wellas from fellow colleagues in the field. He laterdonated many of these items to the NMHM,which at that time was part of the ArmedForces Institute of Pathology and under thedirection of Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Blumberg inWashington, District of Columbia. Many ofthese items were showcased by NMHM staffduring and after Rich’s discussion.

“I was encouraged by my mentors todo something unusual, as some had put it.Based on that advice, I came up with theidea for my own medical museum,” he said.“There are many opportunities out there ifyou seize upon them. Fortunately for me,there was an abundance of opportunitiesthat came my way during that period.”

Rich provided a slide presentation thatincluded viewpoints American Soldiers

had while navigating through the jungles ofVietnam. He also showed pictures of variousweapons and the wounds he treated whilein his Quonset hut operating room. Due tobeing in such a remote location and emer-gency evacuation being so difficult, Richestimated that more than two-thirds of thepatients he operated on were held there andeventually went back to duty in country.

He also shared an interesting, yet slightlyharrowing story about the time he got backfrom Vietnam and was asked to give a lec-ture at the Walter Reed Army Institute ofResearch in 1968. Just as he was about toaddress the audience, Rich recalls beingsurrounded by several men. They pulledhim off-stage and told him he was in a lotof trouble.

“They told me they were still decidingamongst themselveswhether I shouldbe courtmartialed, shot or sent far away somewhere,”he said. “Turns out, they were with the CIA,CID and FBI. They were after me for the itemsI sent to the museum from Vietnam.”

As it turns out, the weapons and ar-tifacts Rich had boxed up and flown outsomehow ended up at McChord Air ForceBase in Washington without his knowledge.The boxes sat there for about a year beforesomeone finally decided to send them toRich, but not before alerting authorities thatthey were going over state lines.

“The charges they initially had againstme were phenomenal. What saved me in theend was that I was very thorough and hadcatalogued everything that was given to mewhile at the hospital,” said Rich. “I also hada signed letter from AFIP stating their desirefor the items. I’m not sure what would have

happened to me without it.”Rich, who grew up in a small Arizona

copper mining town, later became chief ofvascular surgery at the Walter Reed Army In-stitute of Surgical Research. He was also ap-pointed professor of surgery for the Schoolof Medicine at the Uniformed Services Uni-versity of the Health Sciences in 1976. Hebecame department chairman a year laterand remained in that position until his re-tirement in 2002.

“Every time we go to war, we have to startall over again,” said Rich. “One of the thingswe’re trying to do at the Uniformed ServicesUniversity is to prepare people to be moreready for the management of patients. Thatpriority will never change.”

Earlier in the evening, a small group ofVietnam War veterans attending the pro-gram, including Rich, were acknowledgedby the Department of Defense’s VietnamWar Commemoration Committee for ser-vice to their country. Each was awarded amerit pin following a video presentationthat included a message of thanks fromPresident Barack Obama.

“We’ve had so many items come into ourmuseum related to Vietnam that we wantedto offer a program in conjunction with theU.S. Vietnam War Commemoration that’spart of a larger nationwide initiative to edu-cate the public about those who served andwhat we learned from that experience, par-ticularly as we commemorate the 50th an-niversary of the Vietnam War,” said AndreaSchierkolk, public program manager for theNMHM.

The NMHM’s Medical Museum Sci-ence Cafés are a regular series of informaltalks that connect the mission of the DODmuseum with the public. The NMHM wasfounded as the Army Medical Museum in1862 and moved to its new location in SilverSpring, Maryland, in 2012. For more infor-mation on the program, call (301) 319-3300or visit www.medicalmuseum.mil.

Retired Army Surgeon Joins NMHM to Mark 50th Anniversary of Vietnam War

Dr. Norman M. Rich, a retired Army col-onel and renowned vascular surgeon,speaks about his experiences dur-ing the VietnamWar on Feb. 24 at theMedical Museum Science Café, heldat the National Museum of Health andMedicine in Silver Spring, Maryland.(Disclosure: Portions of this imagehave been masked to protect PII. Thisimage has been cropped to emphasizethe subject.)

Photo by Paul Bello,National Museum of Health and Medicine


JULIUS L. EVANSNMLC PUBLIC AFFAIRS

In two separate events, the NavalMedical Logistics Com-mand on Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, welcomed itsnew director for administration and then on March 1, pro-moted him to lieutenant commander.

Lt. MatthewDeShazo reported for duty in February 2015.As the director for administration, his responsibilities in-clude managing a staff of administrative professionals whocoordinate all command correspondence, maintain andtrack all official documentation through both internal andexternal channels and manage the workflow of all adminis-trative tasks assigned to the NMLC.

Shortly after reporting to the NMLC, DeShazo achieved asignificant milestone in a naval officer’s career when he waspromoted to lieutenant commander. This rank is the Navy’sfirst commissioned officer rank, in the promotion structure,selected by peers.

“I am happy to preside over today’s ceremony. This isa tremendous accomplishment for Lt. Cmdr. DeShazo be-cause this is the first time his service record was reviewedby a board of his peers. He was selected among a certainnumber of people who were chosen to be promoted,” saidCapt. Mary S. Seymour, NMLC’s commanding officer. “Dur-ing the short time he has been here, it is evident why hewas selected. He is highly motivated and has hit the groundrunning in full gear. He is a welcome member of our familyand we are happy he is here.”

DeShazo is a native of western Maryland, having gradu-ated from Frederick High School. He then graduated fromShippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in psy-chology and began his career in the private sector healthcare market. During his 11 years of private and public

healthcare management experience, DeShazo gained sig-nificant managed-care leadership experience working withthe renowned medical systems of Johns Hopkins and theUniversity of Maryland.

In December 2005, he completed a master’s degree inHealth Systems Management from the University of Bal-timore. In September 2006, he was commissioned a lieu-tenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corpsthrough the Direct Accession Program. He went on to com-plete tours of duty at several other commands and then,while serving at the Armed Forces Radiobiology ResearchInstitute, DeShazo was accepted in the U.S. Naval War Col-lege, College of Distance Learning Program leading to hiscompletion of a master’s degree in National Security andStrategic Studies.

During his ceremony, he thankedmembers from his pre-vious command that traveled from Pennsylvania andMary-land in recognition of his promotion.

“If it weren’t for you, your work ethic and your profes-sionalism, I would not be standing here today,” said De-Shazo, directing his comments to his fellow recruiters. “Youwere the keys in making my recruiting tour successful. Youwere my ‘dream team,’ and I want to thank you for makingme shine during the critical performance evaluation periodsleading up to my peer review board in the spring of 2014.”

While at Navy Recruiting District Philadelphia, he servedas both a Division Officer for enlisted recruiting productionand as the Medical Service Corps Medical Program direc-tor. DeShazo was recognized for his outstanding leadershipin December 2013 and again in December 2014, as NRDPhiladelphia’s Division Officer of the Year. His recruitingdivision was selected as the NRD Philadelphia FY14 Divi-sion of the Year. He departed recruiting duty with the NavyRecruiting Ribbon and 11 Gold Wreath production awards.

He then thanked his wife and daughter who stood by assons Jackson 11, and Blake 7, pinned on their dad’s new col-lar device to the delight of the audience. Then, addressingthe audience, DeShazo recognized Master Chief HospitalCorpsman David Hall, who was his “Sea daddy” at the Na-tional Naval Medical Center Bethesda during his first tourin the Navy.

“As a senior chief, he helped me start my career as a ju-nior officer. At Officer Development School, they told us to‘find the chief’ for guidance when you report to your firstduty station. Senior Chief Hall was one of the chiefs thattaught me what it meant to be an officer in the Navy.”

DeShazo Reports as NMLC’s DFA, Promoted to Lieutenant Commander

Capt. Mary Seymour recites the Navy officer promo-tion oath of office to Lt. Matthew DeShazo as he waspromoted to Lieutenant Commander.

Photo by Julius Evans, NMLC Public Affairs

LANESSA HILLUSAG PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Army Community Services hosted a Newcomers Orien-tation on Tuesday, March 17, in the Community ActivitiesCenter at Fort Detrick. This week’s event had a new feel, anew agenda and a lot of enthusiasm as current employeeswelcomed new employees, Soldiers and their families.

As many as 56 active duty service members, civilians andchildren from Fort Detrick, Forest Glen Annex and RavenRock attended the orientation, which was opened by Col.Perry Clark and U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj.Richard Jessup.

Fort Detrick is a “unique installation that is unlike noother,” said Clark during his welcoming remarks. He wel-comed everyone to Frederick, Maryland; mentioning howhe himself grew up not too far from Frederick in westernMaryland, where his parents still live to this day.

“My parents are in western Maryland and I can tell youit gets cold here. For those of you coming from warm cli-mates, get ready. But, I really think we have seen the lastsnow and this really is a great place,” said Clark.

One attendee commented how nice it was to see com-mand staff present at something like this and how he hasnever been to a place where the command sergeant majorhas been so animated and welcoming.

This year, a new component was added to the orien-tation; a narrated bus tour of the installation and aroundFrederick. Highlights included Whittier Elementary, thefeeder elementary school for Fort Detrick children, BakerPark, Market Street, Francis Scott Key Mall, the MarylandDepartment of Motor Vehicles and a stop at the FrederickCounty visitor’s center.

Staff at the visitors center greeted two bus-loads ofpeople with goodie bags packed with information and bro-chures on what Frederick County has to offer visitors and itscitizens. This stop also included Frederick’s state of the art

theater, featuring its award-winning multi-screen orienta-tion film, “A Turn of the Wheel.”

According to Liz Dague, relocation program manager inArmy Community Services, attendee feedback on this newaddition to the orientation was positive.

“The majority enjoyed the tour and could relax and focuson the points of interest without worrying about getting lost,”said Dague. “They also pointed out that this format, wherethere was lots of interaction, was muchmore enjoyable.”

Newcomers Welcomed at Fort Detrick

Spc. Domingo Lugo and Pfc. Jacob Allen, both of 114Signal Battalion, pick up information relevant to ser-vices and programs provided at Fort Detrick duringthe first newcomers orientation of 2015.

Photo by Lanessa Hill, USAG Public Affairs

See WELCOME, continued on page 7

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pany, Inc., the neurotechnology firm thatcreated the Ahead 100 via funding from theU.S. Department of Defense. “We wanted toput something into your hand that allowedyou to use an EEG, and use it rapidly.”

According to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, TBI-related emer-gency room visits by men have jumped bymore than 50 percent in the past 10 years

alone. Visits by women hover near the samemark throughout the same time period.The Ahead 100 is intended for use within24 hours on patients who have sustained aclosed-head injury and show signs of trau-matic brain injury.

Hack added, “long-term benefits includethe expansion to milder concussion indica-tions, which will be valuable to a clinician inrecommending a treatment plan.”

MEASURE, continued from page 3

The Ahead 100 headpiece fits around a mannequin as the corresponding hand-held portion of the device sits nearby. Photo courtesy of BrainScope Company, Inc.

The morning ended where it all began,at the Community Activities Center. Thistime, experts were available to answerquestions and provide information regard-ing programs and services available here atFort Detrick.

The newcomer’s orientation is a monthlyevent and required per Army regulation foractive duty. The next orientation is sched-ule for April 15. To register for any of theupcoming sessions, visit https://installa-tion.detrick.army.mil/newcomers/index.cfm or call Army Community Services at(301) 619-2197.

WELCOME, continued from page 6

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