Airman 1st Class Jacob A. Ramos, Jr.
Dental Assistant with the 87th Medical Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
DEPENDABILITY: Ramos is instrumental in maintaining Air Force readiness by providing comprehensive oral health care services that ensure personnel are deployable. He and the dental team also demonstrate their commitment to patient well-being by extending clinic hours and offering weekend appointments to address pain and provide timely treatment.
Amanda Grifka
Health Systems Specialist at Defense Health Agency Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia
AGILITY: Amanda helped save the Military Health System more than $700,000 by reducing the length of the TRICARE Evaluation, a comprehensive report examining how the MHS delivers the benefit to beneficiaries, while maintaining the report’s “gold standard” quality. She collaborated with subject matter experts across the MHS, analyzed data and interpreted results, created graphs and charts, and wrote the narrative report. Comments from the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs team were overwhelmingly positive and a huge step toward building DHA’s internal evaluation capabilities.
Capt. Aaron J. Salazar
Family Health Physician with Columbus Medical Group in Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
HUMILITY: Salazar is a steadfast, reliable physician, continuously going above and beyond for patients, staff, and service members. Everyone in the medical group and base community knows him as a diligent provider delivering world class care to his patients. He never seeks recognition; it’s just his way of doing things.
Capt. Taylor Cone
General Dentist at Bassett Army Community Hospital in Fort Wainwright, Alaska
DEPENDABILITY: Dental health is vital to deployability. Cone ensures soldiers are dentally fit to deploy and remain mission-capable through timely care, prevention, and education. She minimizes dental emergencies that could disrupt training or deployment and allows soldiers to focus on the mission while supporting their overall health.
Cmdr. Raben B. Talvo
Product Officer, Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record in the Program Executive Office in Falls Church, Virginia
AGILITY: Talvo is a steady, mission-driven leader able to deliver complex programs under tight timelines without sacrificing quality. He consistently adapts to shifting operational priorities, translating evolving requirements into clear, executable plans that protect continuity of operations and improve outcomes for service members and veterans. He transformed ILER into a critical platform for more than 60,000 daily users across the DOD and VA and secured $4.3 million in funding to sustain and expand ILER’s capabilities, cementing the system's role as a foundational tool for military health surveillance and operational decision making.
Chad McGrath
Patient Safety Program Lead and TeamSTEPPS Program Coordinator for Defense Health Network-West, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
AGILITY: Chad transformed performance improvement across DHN-West by implementing the TeamSTEPPS training program for 14 facilitators and 88 students, enhancing staff satisfaction and patient outcomes. The program, which stands for Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, is an evidence-based, proactive approach for addressing challenges in health care delivery and promoting a culture of safety.
Develyn Lewis
Alternate General Practice Manager at 19th Medical Group in Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
AGILITY: Develyn’s persistence and dedication to patient care were evident when she received a concerning call from a member in crisis. After learning where the member was stationed, Develyn worked to contact the family, confirm the member was safe, and coordinate continued care at a local facility.
Jeremiah K. Hickman
Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator at Naval Hospital Bremerton in Bremerton, Washington
HUMILITY: Jeremiah’s approach to beneficiary support is rooted in his desire to improve warfighter readiness. He is focused on helping, educating, and guiding beneficiaries, immediately centering on the needs of the individual and demonstrating a profound commitment to service over self. His humble posture allows him to connect with a diverse population with empathy and compassion.
June M. Early
Deputy Chief, Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Branch for the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division in Silver Spring, Maryland
AGILITY: For 11 years, June has guided the GEIS program through the ever-changing landscape of biosurveillance, ensuring it remains an invaluable asset. Her strategic plan expanded staffing capabilities that allowed GEIS to adapt and excel while supporting combat support efforts to protect the warfighter. June goes above and beyond to ensure the GEIS team works in an environment that encourages growth, ingenuity, and positivity.
Karla Rasool
Patient Safety Consultant at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas
DEPENDABILITY: Karla supports the organization's readiness and overall health by identifying risks, promoting best practices, and ensuring safe, reliable, and high-quality patient care.
Katherine Cox
Clinic Nurse at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, California
AGILITY: Katherine is an outstanding and resourceful nurse. Her direct impact on force readiness is evident in her expert management of both 53 and 62 Area Marine Centered Medical Home clinics. By skillfully navigating complex supply and medical systems, she eliminates barriers to care and directly enhances the medical readiness and lethality of warfighters. Her unwavering commitment and leadership make her a cornerstone of force health protection and mission success.
Lt. Hana S. Omodt
Assistant Department Head, Healthcare Operations at Naval Hospital Bremerton in Bremerton, Washington
AGILITY: Omodt rapidly adapts to the evolving demands of complex health care business projects, nimbly applying her deep expertise in clinical operations and health informatics to implement swift, impactful solutions. This agile methodology allows her to quickly optimize informatics systems and drive significant gains in clinic efficiency to help enhance and support warfighter readiness. Her ability to pivot and react decisively ensures continuous improvement in business data and organizational processes to caring for active duty service members, retirees and their dependents.
Lt. j.g. Brandon M. Andriot
Program Manager, Competitive Plans Demonstration and Eligibility, Enrollment, and Encounter Pilot for the TRICARE Health Plan Program Management Office at Defense Health Agency Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia
AGILITY: Andriot masterfully directed large teams and managed more than $100 million in contracts. He spearheaded a demonstration project impacting 137,000 beneficiaries, and his strategic advice significantly improved TRICARE's efficiency and quality of care, leaving a lasting impact on the Defense Health Agency.
Melanie Brooks
Formulary Manager and Executive Health Pharmacist at Brooke Army Medical Center in Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
DEPENDABILITY: Melanie is a reliable, trustworthy, and dedicated teammate. As a designated super user and subject matter expert for critical pharmacy systems, she is the go-to resource for resolving complex technical issues. Her profound sense of duty is exemplified by her commitment to high-impact responsibilities far beyond standard expectations, and her proactive leadership in patient safety and problem-solving has a positive impact on providers and patients. Melanie is an invaluable asset to her team and DHA.
Master Sgt. Gisela C. Solis
Superintendent at the Medical Education and Training Campus Information Technology & Multimedia Division in Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
DEPENDABILITY: Solis leads 38 personnel at METC with a mission to guarantee robust cyber defense and network compliance across 48 tri-service courses, directly ensuring military medical education readiness and fostering the professional growth of her team.
Pamela Calpito
Nurse Case Manager for Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Camp Pendleton, California
AGILITY: Pamela is a fierce and tireless advocate for wounded warriors and sailors with complex medical needs. She consistently goes above and beyond, adeptly navigating complex medical systems with an unwavering can-do attitude to ensure every patient receives the extraordinary care they deserve. Her dedication and remarkable results make her an indispensable asset to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and the entire Military Health System.
Rachel Lucas
Chief, Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic Support Team at Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center in Fort Belvoir, Virginia
DEPENDABILITY: Rachel is an outstanding supervisor and role model for her team. She's also their biggest cheerleader, supporting and empowering them to tackle any challenge. She’s also the go-to resource for answers to critical issues, always thinking of new ways to improve the clinic.
Sr. Airman Jaiah Jo Nikole Miller
Office Manager for the 354th Medical Group at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
AGILITY: Miller focuses on streamlining provider scheduling to guarantee timely health care access for the force and their families. By optimizing appointment availability and minimizing wait times, she directly contributes to their health and readiness.