RADM Cristina V. Beato, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, has named CAPT Thomas McGinnis to the
Department of Defense’s (DoD) newly created position of Chief, Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate, at
the TRICARE Management Activity.
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As Chief of Pharmaceutical Operations, CAPT McGinnis will be responsible for the management and operational
implementation of DoD’s $5 billion dollar TRICARE pharmacy benefit program, which provides worldwide
coverage for 9.2 million eligible beneficiaries of the seven uniformed services. CAPT McGinnis will provide
executive leadership and technical direction on specialized and sensitive operational issues relating to
the unique problems and complexities of the DoD pharmacy benefit management. |
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CAPT McGinnis currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy Affairs, Office of Policy and Planning, in the
Office of the Commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He began his career at FDA in 1977
as a Drug Information Specialist in the Division of Over-the-Counter Drug Evaluation. In 1981 he moved to
the Division of Drug Information Resources in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research's Office of
Management. In 1983 he became Chief of the Drug Information Services Branch where he was responsible for
publishing FDA's "Orange Book" and other drug information reports and publications related to the
implementation of the 1984 amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. |
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In 1987 he joined the Office of Drug Standards where, as the Executive Assistant to the Director, he helped
direct programs for the development of monographs establishing recognition of safety and efficacy in the
various categories of over-the-counter drugs, for the regulation of prescription drug advertising and
labeling, and for the approval and therapeutic equivalence of generic drug products. He helped establish
the new Office of Generic Drugs in 1990 and served as Special Assistant to the office director until
joining the Office of the Health Affairs, Office of the Commissioner, in April of 1991. He became Deputy
Associate Commissioner for Health Affairs in 1997 and moved to the Office of Policy following reorganization
of the commissioner’s office in 1999. During his tenure at FDA, he served on a variety of FDA committees,
represented FDA at a variety of pharmacy meetings, and has been a featured speaker on a variety of topics
related to the practice of pharmacy. |
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CAPT McGinnis joined the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1976 as a Commissioned
Officer Student Training and Extern Program participant at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and earned his pharmacy
degree from Rutgers University in 1977. He completed his masters in general administration course work in
1991 at the University of Maryland. The Rutgers College of Pharmacy named him alumnus of the year in 1994.
He was appointed to the Board of Advisory of Rutgers College of Pharmacy in 2001. |
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CAPT McGinnis’ memberships are numerous and include the Commissioned Officers Association, Reserve Officers
Association, and Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. He was assimilated into the Regular
Corps in 1987 and received many PHS awards for his extraordinary leadership and service. Among these are
the Commendation Medal, the Achievement Medal, the PHS citation, and several Unit Commendation Medals. CAPT
McGinnis also received the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service and the Secretary’s Award for
Excellence in Public Service. |
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