Defense Health Agency

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is a joint, integrated combat support agency that enables the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force medical services to provide a medically ready force and ready medical force to combatant commands in both peacetime and wartime. The DHA is in charge of integrating clinical and business operations across the Military Health System (MHS) and facilitates the delivery of integrated and reasonably priced health care to MHS clients.

Defense Health Agency
Logo
Active	October 1, 2013
Part of	Military Health System
Garrison/HQ	Falls Church, Virginia
Website	Official website
Insignia
Seal
Distinctive unit insignia worn by U.S. Army element
Shoulder sleeve insignia worn by U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force elements

As a part of the Military Health System, DHA maintains a global workforce of almost 140,000 civilians and military personnel. Through TRICARE, DHA manages a global health system serving 9.5M beneficiaries and supporting 700+ hospitals and clinics worldwide.^[1]

History

The United States Department of Defense established the DHA as part of a larger effort meant to reorganize its health care programs and services. The reorganization was based in part on the recommendations of a task force that issued a report on the management of U.S. military health care in 2011.^[2] Under the old system, many aspects of military health care were managed by the individual armed services (Army, Navy, and Air Force).^[3][4]

Structure

The organizational structure of the Defense Health Agency.

The DHA operates under the authority and oversight of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. The ASD(HA) is a civilian, Senate-confirmed official who serves as the chief medical adviser to the Secretary of Defense and oversees health policy and budgeting across the system, as well as directing the activities of the Defense Health Agency.^[5] (see organization chart, right).^[6]

Defense Health Networks

The Defense Health Agency implemented a deliberate organizational change to strengthen the management of health care delivery, combat support and support to the military health enterprise worldwide. Military hospitals and clinics are organized into one of nine Defense Health Networks enabling the Defense Health Agency to deliver high-quality health care. A Defense Health Network is a group of military medical and dental facilities that operates as a coordinated system and improves the delivery and continuity of health services.^[7]

National Capital Region Medical Directorate

The National Capital Region Medical Directorate is a medical directorate within the DHA.^[2]

Education & Training Directorate

Medical Education and Training Campus

See: Medical Education and Training Campus § Academics

List of directors

No.	Director		Term			Service branch
	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Term length
1		Robb, Douglas J.Lieutenant General Douglas J. Robb	October 1, 2013	November 2, 2015	2 years, 32 days	U.S. Air Force
2		Bono, Raquel C.Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono (born 1957)	November 2, 2015[8]	September 4, 2019	3 years, 306 days	U.S. Navy
3		Place, Ronald J.Lieutenant General Ronald J. Place	September 4, 2019[9]	January 3, 2023	3 years, 121 days	U.S. Army
4		Crosland, TelitaLieutenant General Telita Crosland	January 3, 2023[10]	February 28, 2025[11]	2 years, 56 days	U.S. Army
–		Smith, DavidDavid J. Smith Acting	February 28, 2025	Incumbent	293 days	Senior Executive Service

See also

• Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
• Military Health System
• Military medicine
• Surgeon General of the United States Army
• Surgeon General of the United States Navy
• Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
• TRICARE
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
• US Family Health Plan