COL Robert Heath has over 36 years of service in the U.S. Army, including two years in the South Carolina Army National Guard, while attending the University of South Carolina.
He entered active duty in 1989 as a special operations medic with the 75th Ranger Regiment, participating in the combat airborne assault of Panama during Operation Just Cause. COL Heath attended the U.S. Army Physician Assistant Program as a Staff Sergeant, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Specialist Corps in 1996. He also holds a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska.
COL Heath is currently the Commander or 62D Medical Brigade… America’s Medics… as part of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff for Regional Health Command- Atlantic, following Brigade Command of the Fort Drum Medical Activity (MEDDAC) and Guthrie Army Health Clinic. COL Heath previously served as the Director, Military Health System Governance at the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) after Battalion Command of Public Health Activity- Ft Gordon.
Colonel Heath completed Senior Service College in 2015 as an Army War College Fellow at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the Defense Strategy Course, Capstone Course for Military Health System Leaders, AMEDD Executive Skills, Division Surgeon Course, and Joint Medical Planners Course.
Colonel Heath’s operational medical experience includes assignments with the 75th Ranger Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Joint Task Force – Bravo (Honduras), Ranger Training Brigade, and 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was additionally assigned as an Orthopedic PA at Womack Army Medical Center. COL Heath served as the Deputy Surgeon for Clinical Operations and Senior PA for both the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. He also served as the Task Force Bragg III Command Surgeon and XVIII Airborne Corps Surgeon (Rear) to the Senior Commander Fort Bragg.
Colonel Heath is a recipient of the “A” Proficiency Designator, the highest recognition for professional excellence in the Army Medical Department, and the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3). He has earned the Ranger tab, Combat Medic Badge (2nd Award), Expert Field Medical Badge, Master Rated Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. Additionally, he has completed the JFK Special Warfare Center and School’s Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE), Army Flight Surgeon and Navy Diving Medical Officer courses. His individual awards include the Air Medal with “V” Device for Valor in addition to numerous Army, Joint and Foreign awards, Campaign and Service Medals.
Acknowledgments: This biography was written by LTC Amelia Duran-Stanton, MAJ Patrick Walsh, and COL Robert Heath and was submitted to the Society in September 2017 and updated January 2024. Photographs are courtesy of COL Heath.
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Disclaimer: The authors’ views do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.