Richard Thomas, a retired U.S. Army major general, has been appointed as the new president of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Thomas, who was the first director of healthcare operations for the Defense Health Agency, will succeed Charles Rice, the Defense Department said Thursday.
Rice will leave his post on June 30 after serving as president of the university since July 2005, DoD added.
Thomas was an Army physician and has held command and leadership roles with the Western Regional Medical Command, TRICARE Puget Sound Multi-Service Market and the Army Medical Corps.
He has served in overseas duty assignments as surgeon general of United States Forces-Afghanistan and senior medical adviser for the International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command-Afghanistan and has received operational deployments for Operation Just Cause, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He also received awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal during his service.
Thomas is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and a certified medical professional by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery.
USUHS offers health sciences educational programs for military and civilian students with a mission to educate, train and prepare uniformed services health professionals who will support the Military Health System, national security, national defense strategies and force readiness.