Deborah Whitmer | Chief Of Staff
U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command

Deborah Whitmer, Chief Of Staff, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command

Deborah L. Whitmer is the Chief of Staff at the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). MRMC is the Army's medical materiel developer, with responsibility for medical research, development, and acquisition and medical logistics management. The USAMRMC's expertise in these critical areas helps establish and maintain the capabilities the Army needs to fight and win on the battlefield. In her current role, COL Whitmer’s responsibilities include providing leadership in coordination for the development, implementation, and mission, and working directly for the Commanding General to support and execute MRMC priorities. In addition, as Chief of Staff, COL Whitmer oversees the daily operations of the MRMC Headquarters staff.

Prior to her current assignment, COL Whitmer served as the Commander of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md. Prepping her for these prestigious assignments was her selection to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Medical Command. Her assignments include: Chief, Department of Veterinary Sciences at the Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence,; Commander, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine; Chief, Analytical Toxicology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD); Chief, Cellular Biology at the U.S. Army Medical Research Detachment - Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (USAMRD-WRAIR) and following a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Theater Veterinarian, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), she returned to serve at USAMRICD as Deputy Commander; then as Commander, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.

Colonel Deborah L. Whitmer graduated in 1982 cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences with a minor in political science from the University of California at Davis. She is a distinguished military graduate of the University of California, Davis ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1982 into the Adjutant General Corps. In 1986, she graduated from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, she established her All Valley's Veterinary Services (AVVS) practice and provided ambulatory medical and surgical care for mixed species, equine predominately, for nearly 20 years in the Reno/Sparks, Las Vegas, and California Sierra Nevada areas. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical engineering. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2008.

COL Whitmer's awards include the Legion of Merit (1OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with M device), and NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Army Superior Unit Award. She is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Appearances:



Plenary, April 7 @ 15:20

The importance of a One Health approach to biodefense and biosecurity

  • Overview of current threats
  • Insight from US & European countries: How do our governments prepare for outbreaks?
  • How do we ensure rapid manufacturing capabilities for dealing with outbreaks?
last published: 05/Mar/20 10:35 GMT

back to speakers

Sign Up for Event Updates