Officers

Thomasine I. Alvarez - President

Frederic G. Sanford, RADM MC USN (Ret.) - Secretary

Taylor B. Kiland - Treasurer

Board of Directors

Thomasine I. Alvarez
Tammy Alvarez, President of the Friends of the Uniformed Services University, Inc. is an artist, film executive producer, development specialist, and creative consultant.

She is founder and current president of the Friends of USU, Inc., a 501(C) 3, all-volunteer non-profit organization with 200 members. As the mother of a USU medical student graduate class of 2005, as the daughter of a retired Major US Army Reserve Medical Doctor and the wife of a 21-year member of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Board of Regents, Tammy’s passion and dedication for greater public awareness of the contributions and sacrifices of military medical personnel, as well as the threat of closure of USU and the need of promoting awareness of the University, led to the idea for the documentary, FIGHTING FOR LIFE which was featured in movie theaters across the country, on PBS and other TV networks.

With a long list of community service, Ms. Alvarez has received numerous awards for her outstanding service to her community and to the nation. In 2007, she received the distinguished DuBois Medal for her outstanding service to the Church, State and the Nation from Mount Saint Mary’s and awarded the annual Navy, Marines and Coast Guard Residence Foundation award in recognition of her contributions to military medicine. In 2008, as Executive Producer of Fighting for Life, was FREDDIE AWARDS International Health & Medical Media Awards in the category of Communications. In 2009, Mrs. Alvarez was awarded the National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor for leadership, Trustworthiness, Service and Patriotism.

 

Kathryn M. Beasley, Ph.D, CAPT USN (Ret.)
Kathryn M. Beasley PhD has extensive experience in both the Department of Defense and VA health systems health policy arenas. She has ten years of Capitol Hill experience advocating for a variety of health care issues affecting active duty personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families, in her role as the Military Officers Association of America’s Government Relations Director for Health Affairs.

She retired from the Naval Service in 2009 after serving 30 years. As a career Navy Nurse Corps officer, she served in a wide variety of staff and senior leadership positions within the Navy and the Department of Defense. She has had assignments serving in military treatment facilities both stateside and abroad. Her clinical specialties have been in the Surgical Intensive Care and Surgical Services as well as the Ambulatory care areas. Her operational assignments have been on the USNS Comfort, and her administrative emphasis has been in the Managed Care arena, TRICARE Operations, and Healthcare Operational and Contingency Planning.

Her leadership assignments have included Chief of Staff of Naval Healthcare New England; Deputy Commander and Director of Healthcare Operations at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda; Chief of Staff for the Commanding General for the NCR Multi-Service Market Area at Walter Reed Army Medical Center; and the Director of Planning and Operational Support for the Navy Surgeon General.

CAPT Beasley is a native of St. Louis Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Oklahoma, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston College, Chestnut Hill Massachusetts, and earned her doctorate from the International School of Management. She is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

 

Ronald Blanck, DO, Lt. Gen. MC USA (RET)
Lt. Gen.39th Surgeon General of the United State Army, from 1996-2000. As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), he is the only D.O. to have been appointed as Surgeon General of the Army. He is the former President of University of North Texas Science Center at Fort Worth and former Chairman of the Board of Regent of the Uniformed Services University. Of his military career of 32 years, Lt Gen Ron Blanck began his military career as battalion surgeon in Vietnam, served as the commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center; first commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command; and Director of Professional Services and Chief of Medical Corps Affairs at Uniformed Services University, to name just a few posts.  Lieutenant General Ronald  Blanck is a former Professor at Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University College of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and University of North Texas Health Science Center. Lieutenant General Ronald R. Blanck, DO MACP USA (ret) presently is the interim President of FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research. He continues to be a constant as an advisor on bioterrorism issues and an expert in preparing the medical community to respond to mass casualty incidents or those involving weapons of mass destruction. Dr. Ronald  Blanck is also a partner and Chairman of the Board of Martin, Blanck & Associates…a healthcare consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia. Lieutenant General Ronald Blanck, DO, USA (ret) received The Distinguished Service Medal, The Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star and Meritorious Service and The Army Commendation Medal.

 

Paul Friedrichs, MD, Maj. Gen. MC USAF

Maj. Gen. Paul Friedrichs is the Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He provides medical advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff and the Combatant Commanders. He coordinates all issues related to health services, to include operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among the combatant commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the services. He led the development and publication of the initial Joint Medical Estimate and serves as medical advisor to the Department of Defense COVID-19 Task Force.

Maj. Gen. Friedrichs received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1986 and his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the Uniformed Services University in 1990. He has commanded at the squadron and group level, served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery and led joint and interagency teams which earned numerous awards, including “Best Air Force Hospital.” As Chair of the Military Health System’s Joint Task Force on High Reliability Organizations, he oversaw developing a roadmap to continuously improve military health care. As the Command Surgeon for Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Transportation Command and Air Combat Command, the general and his teams identified gaps, developed mitigation plans and enhanced readiness for future conflicts and contingencies.

 

Taylor Baldwin Kiland
Author, co-author, ghostwriter, or edited twenty-one books, including three about our nation’s POWs: Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind, Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams, and Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later. She also authored fourteen children’s and teen books, such as Careers in the Navy. In addition, Ms. Kiland was a naval officer and spent twenty years in the private sector in marketing communications prior to starting her writing career.

 

Lois M. Meszaros, Ph.D., M.Ed.
Retired psychologist with more than 45 years of experience in the field of Psychology and developmental disabilities. Dr. Meszaros is a former director of developmental disabilities for the State of Maryland, director of psychological services for several local health departments, chief operating officer and former Clinical Director for Chimes Delaware, adjunct professor at McDaniel College, and the University of Baltimore, and private clinical practitioner. Dr. Meszaros is a former VP of RESCARE working in Tennessee and Virginia.  Dr. Meszaros is the former treasurer for the Baltimore Psychological Association. She was given the Governors Citation for Distinguish Services to People with Disabilities in Maryland. Dr. Meszaros is on the Executive Council of AARP of Maryland

 

The Honorable Lawrence C. Mohr, M.D., COL MC USA (Ret.)
Former White House physician and a distinguished University Professor of Medicine, Biometry and Epidemiology and director of the Environmental Biosciences Program at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Mohr was presented the Erskine Award as the most outstanding resident in his class. He subsequently served as the chief medical resident at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. Mohr has served on numerous government, scientific and professional Boards and committees. These include the e was awarded the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, the Board of Governors of Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Editorial Board of the medical journal CHEST, and several other distinguished positions. Dr. Mohr was the Founding Chair of the American College of Chest Physicians Disaster Response Network. He was also on the United States delegation to an International Atomic Energy Agency Committee on Radiation Protection and the World Trade Center Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. The Honorable Dr. Mohr is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National Security Management Program at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.  He retired from active duty as a Colonel in the Army medical Corps. His military decorations include the defense Distinguished Medal, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with “V” device for heroism in ground combat , two awards of the bronze Star medal for meritorious service in combat operations and the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

 

Leon E. Moores, MD, MS, FACS, FAANS, COL MC USA (Ret.)
Pediatric Neurological surgeon at Innova Health System. He is a Professor of Neurosurgery at Virginia Commonwealth University and a former Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics from his alma mater, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Class of 1990. He began his career in the Infantry as a Lieutenant at the 82nd Airborne Division; was the Chief of Neurosurgery at Walter Reed; Chair of the Department of Surgery at Walter Reed; Deputy Commander for Integration at National Naval Medical Center; Commander (CEO) of Ft. Meade Medical Activity; and CEO of Pediatric Specialists of Virginia.

 

Scott K. Rineer, M.D., MPH, FACEP, FAAEM, CAPT MC (MS/FMF) USN (Ret.)
Emergency medicine physician in Tampa Bay who has worked in a variety of local hospitals. Graduate of Uniformed Services University, Class of 1990, and looking to attend Stetson University College of Law. He completed the “Deep Freeze” in Antarctica; parachutist designation(USN/USMC); the Army’s prestigious expeditionary field medical badge; was a flight surgeon for CMA9A)-332, VMAQ-3, DOES and later as Group Surgeon, MWSG-17, just to name a few positions throughout his distinguished career. He is also a small business owner.

 

Frederic G. Sanford, RADM MC USN (Ret.)
Former Chief, Medical Corps and Assistant Chief, Operational Medicine and Fleet Support, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, served as Battalion Surgeon, Eleventh Engineers Battalion, Third Marine Division, Republic of Vietnam, just to list a few posts. Dr. Sanford received the Legion of Merit (with two gold stars); Meritorious Service Medical; Combat Action Ribbon; and other campaign awards during his distinguished career. He is the former Executive Director, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) and Member of Healthcare committee of military coalition and Emeritus Volunteer Trustee of Vinson Hall Retirement Community.

 

Richard W. Thomas, MD, DDS, MSS, FACS, FACD, MG MC USA (Ret.)
Major General (ret.) Richard W. Thomas is a physician healthcare executive and is the Associate Vice President, Dean and Chief Medical Officer at West Virginia University School of Medicine, Eastern Campus in Martinsburg, WV.  He most recently served as the sixth President of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
Dr. Thomas retired as a Major General from the United States Army with over 26 years of service. During his career, he commanded at multiple levels and served in numerous key staff assignments, culminating as the Director of Healthcare Operations and the Chief Medical Officer for the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Other noteworthy assignments include: Division Surgeon, 101st Airborne Division; Commanding General, Western Regional Medical Command; Surgeon General, USFORCES‐Afghanistan; Assistant Army Surgeon General and Chief of the U.S. Army Medical Corps. MG Thomas deployed multiple times in support of combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Panama.
Dr. Thomas earned a Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) from the WVU School of Dentistry and a Medical Degree (MD) from the WVU School of Medicine. He also holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is board certified in Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Dentists.
Dr. Thomas has been recognized with numerous awards and decorations including: the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Superior Service Medal (2), the Legion of Merit (3), the Bronze Star Medal (2), and multiple other military awards and decorations.  He is a member of the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni and is a Distinguished Alumnus of West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Advocacy Committee

This is an ad-hoc committee with the goals of advancing the awareness of Uniformed Services University, the university’s mission, and advocating for the next generation of military leaders in the field of healthcare.

Friends of USU Advocacy Committee Members

Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, MPH, JD (link to https://www.usuhs.edu/profile/patrick-deleon-phd-mph-jd)

Honorable Everett Alvarez, Jr. (link to http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=263)

Kevin Wensing (link to https://www.c-span.org/person/?110094/KevinWensing)