In a ceremony held earlier this month, retiring Maj. Gen. Dean G. Sienko relinquished command of the U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) to in-coming commander, COL John V. Teyhen, III.
The USAPHC promotes health and prevents disease, injury and disability in Soldiers and military retirees, their family members, and Army civilians, and assures effective execution of full-spectrum veterinary services for the Army and Department of Defense.
A host of attendees, including USAPHC Soldiers and civilians, dignitaries, family and friends gathered to congratulate Sienko and thank him for his 33 years of outstanding service to the Army, and his extraordinary leadership at USAPHC.
“Maj. Gen. Sienko was instrumental in building strategic relationships with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to promote community health and wellness,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr., Deputy Surgeon General. “He has served the U.S. Army Public Health Command, Army Medicine and the nation with distinction.”
Sienko expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the commander of the USAPHC for the past 20 months, and pride in the public health experts he led.
“It’s been a true honor and privilege to lead this organization and serve with all of you,” said Sienko. “I have been surrounded by the most gifted and talented public health staff,” he said.
Upon his retirement from the Army, Sienko, who is a physician board-certified in general preventive medicine and public health, will serve as the Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health at the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University.
New Commander Brings Wealth of Experience
Prior to this command assignment, COL Teyhen served as the as the Chief of Staff at the U.S. Army Public Health Command. Previously he served at the Pentagon as the Director of the Medical Systems Office where he represented the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). Additionally, he was dual-hatted as the Medical Portfolio Director in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology (DASA R&T).
COL Teyhen’s operational assignments include Deputy Command Surgeon, U.S. Army South/6th Army (Central/South America and the Caribbean); Commander, 224th Medical Detachment; Chief, Preventive Medicine, Joint Task Force–Bravo, Honduras; Executive Officer, 25th Medical Detachment; Force Health Protection Officer, JTF–Bravo, Iraq; Division Environmental Science Officer, 8th Infantry Division; and Civil Affairs Officer, 489th Civil Affairs Company. He has deployed to Iraq, Haiti, Bosnia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Kenya.
Teyhen said he is looking forward to working with the members of the USAPHC team as the organization maintains a legacy of outstanding service to Soldiers and retirees, their families and Army civilians.
“I am sure this organization will continue to respond to worldwide public health issues and keep our Soldiers healthy,” said Teyhen. Teyhen is the 5th commander to lead the USAPHC. He heads a worldwide organization with approximately 3,500 Soldiers and civilians stationed in more than 100 countries.
Credits: Adapted from an article by Chanel Weaver, U.S. Army Public Health Command, edited for context and length. Image: Maj. Gen. Dean G. Sienko, outgoing USAPHC commander, passes the organizational colors to Deputy Surgeon General Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr., signifying his relinquishment of command of the USAPHC in a Jan. 6 ceremony at Top of the Bay. Credit: Graham Snodgrass
