An important Commissioned Corps event occurred on 1 October 2007. On that date, our Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service promoted eight officers to RADM (Lower half) and twp officers to RADM (Upper half). Below I reprise the message of 2006 from our former Assistant Secretary for Health, John Agwunobi, I believe its eloquence reflects and equally important message for today.

“Those entering the Flag Ranks do so with enthusiasm – they should because these are very prestigious positions. However, our Flag Officers are far more. They are the senior most ranking officers of our Corps, and they serve with distinction and as a visible reminder of the great legacy of public health leadership that is our tradition. Because of this tradition, the Acting Surgeon General and I have high expectations of our newest, and indeed all, of our Flag Officers. They are to be leaders, demonstrating strong support of Corps activities. They are to be visible, defining by action and by being in uniform, the honor of being a member of this Service. They are to be mentors and educators, providing sage advice and counsel to their Flag colleagues and our Corps at large, especially our junior officers.

As the Corps moves through the Transformation, the significance of Flag Officers is daily made more apparent – they shall lead us, they shall define us, they shall exemplify the essence of this Corps. As you congratulate the officers named below, remind them of what they mean to you, to our Corps, and to our future – remind them of the legacy that has gone before them and just how powerful your expectations are of each and every one of them.”

Congratulations!