A Navy rear admiral has been named the second director of the Defense Health Agency.
The Defense Department announced Thursday that Rear Adm. Raquel Bono, a surgeon currently leading the National Capital Region Medical Directorate and serving as Medical Corps chief, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, will be promoted to vice admiral to lead the nascent agency.
She will take over the post from Air Force Lt. Gen. Doug Robb, who has led the agency since its establishment in October 2013. Robb is retiring after 40 years in uniform.
Bono was commissioned in 1979, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and a medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Notable assignments include serving as: head of casualty receiving, Fleet Hospital Five in Saudi Arabia during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; director of restorative care at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland; director of medical services at NNMC, executive assistant to the Navy surgeon general; and commanding officer of Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida.
As DHA director, she will oversee an organization responsible for executing the military health program, including providing common health services for military hospitals and clinics, overseeing Tricare, and managing the system's information technology, education, training, research and facilities programs.
Patricia Kime is a senior writer covering military and veterans health care, medicine and personnel issues.
