Defense agency expansion completed

The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC), the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) and the National Museum of Health and Medicine will become a part of Defense Health Agency (DHA) on Sunday as the agency expands.

“These three organizations are nationally renowned institutions that broaden our connection with other federal health partners, and with global health organizations,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, DHA director, said. “Whether it’s identifying how to prevent or stem the outbreak of disease; doing the challenging work to help determine where our research and clinical practices can be directed to increase survivability; or simply allowing us to learn through history, these organizations advance our ability to support our warfighters and everyone who we serve.”

After its transition, AFHSC is becoming the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, part of DHA’s Healthcare Operations Directorate. Its mission is to protect the health and readiness of the military against illness or injury during training exercises as well as deployment.

AFMES provides worldwide comprehensive medico-legal services and investigations. Board-certified forensic pathologists, forensic anthropologists, medical-legal death investigators and photographers are available 24-hours a day to conduct forensic investigations into military deaths throughout the world.

NMHM was founded as the Army Medical Museum in 1862 and is home to a National Historic Landmark collection of more than 25 million objects. Its one-time curator, Army Maj. Walter Reed, led the team that determined how yellow fever spread and founded the Army Medical School.