Editor-in-Chief, Chester 'Trip' Buckenmaier III
MD, COL, MC, USA
This past year is notable for its anniversaries and milestones. We marked the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which literally changed the lives of countless Americans forever. Like many in federal medicine, I can recall details of my life on that day like few other days, such as graduation, my wedding or the birth of a child.

By Robert A. Petzel, MD, VA Under Secretary for Health
VHA provides excellent healthcare to six million veterans – some say the best care anywhere. Not only have we earned higher marks in patient satisfaction than the private sector, we also lead the nation in measures of quality.

By Victoria J. Davey, PhD, MPH
VA Chief Officer of Public Health
The Office of Public Health within the Veterans Health Administration serves as the authority on public health issues for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

By Jonathan Woodson, MD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
The MHS enters 2012 and its second decade of combat operations with confidence in our ability to sustain and expand the excellence we have exhibited in military medicine.

By Rear Adm. Thomas McGinnis, RPh, chief, Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate,
TRICARE Management Activity
The DoD pharmacy program dispenses close to 2.8 million prescriptions each week at a cost of $6.7 billion in 2011, about 14% of the department’s total healthcare costs. The overall DoD health budget remains an issue of concern, as healthcare costs have greatly increased since 2001.

By Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
President Charles Rice, MD
University presidents are asked each year — by their boards, faculty, alumni and others — about their goals and priorities for the coming year. Answering these questions is rarely a simple proposition.

By Lt. Gen. Charles B. Green, MD
Air Force Surgeon General
Through more than a decade of sustained combat, the men and women of the Air Force Medical Service have answered our nation’s call and maintained a standard of excellence second to none.

By Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, RN, MSN
Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command
I am grateful for the honor and privilege to serve as the Army’s 43^rd surgeon general and commander, U.S. Army Medical Command with soldiers and civilians, whose dedication makes our nation strong and our soldiers and families healthy and resilient.

By Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan, MD
Navy Surgeon General and Chief of Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
I am pleased to report that the state of Navy Medicine is strong. I am proud and humbled to be at the helm of this 63,000-person organization and though numerous challenges abound this year, I sleep better at night given the leadership team I recently inherited and where I know we are going to go together.

Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director
The CDC is the health sentinel for our nation. Monitoring and surveillance are among our key functions, allowing the country to know the extent of health problems, which populations are most affected and whether interventions are working.