President Obama has named Jonathan Woodson, a one-star general in the Army Reserve, the Pentagon’s top doctor. Woodson currently works at Boston University School of Medicine as an associate professor of surgery and as the associate dean.Woodson has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Saudi Arabia, and Central America. He is currently the deputy commander of the Army Reserve Medical Command and assistant surgeon general for reserve affairs, force structure and mobilization in the Office of the Army Surgeon General.
In his new role, Woodson would also be the principal adviser to the secretary of defense on health issues and oversee the country’s Military Health System. This is the military’s medical enterprise, which has a $50 billion budget.
Woodson’s nomination will now be in the hands of the Senate, and if confirmed he will be replacing W. Ward Casscells.
