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News | Aug. 11, 2016

Troop Support pharmacist inducted into Order of Military Medical Merit

By Michael Tuttle DLA Troop Support Public Affairs

The chief pharmacist at Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support began his Army medical career as a Special Forces medic. Twenty-five years later, his distinguished service earned Maj. Randall Sweeney induction into the Order of Military Medical Merit.

Sweeney was presented the medallion and maroon ribbon that signifies his induction by Col. Alex Zotomayor, Medical supply chain director, during a ceremony Aug. 4. Zotomayor is also a member and nominated Sweeney.

The Order of Military Medical Merit is a unique, private organization founded by the commanding general of U.S. Army Health Services Command in 1982 to recognize excellence and promote fellowship and esprit de corps among Army Medical Department personnel, according to the AMEDD website.

Sweeney said that while he was being recognized, a team effort has driven everything he’s accomplished.

Throughout his Army medical career, Sweeney’s efforts to improve organizations, “and ensure patient safety and quality of care,” according to Zotomayor, include:

  • As a Special Forces medic, he deployed on various contingency missions and instructed more than 300 students in combat trauma management, anesthesia, surgery, and other medical, dental and veterinary subjects.
  • As a pharmacy officer, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he worked the issue of suicide prevention and psychotropic medications, changed U.S. Central Command policies to focus on the patient-provider relationship and established a pharmacy technician equivalency course.
  • At Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Sweeney developed and deployed performance improvement programs for medication management, diversion avoidance, operational performance and health policy. He also earned the 2009 Army Pharmacy Innovation and Leadership Award.

Sweeney has a few more weeks left as chief pharmacist for Medical’s Customer Pharmacy Operations Center. His time at DLA Troop Support is marked by efforts to maximize effectiveness and cost efficiencies throughout the Defense Department, and to ensure the availability of pharmaceutical products to enable patient care, Zotomayor said.

“The strategic-level vision here at DLA Troop Support is unparalleled,” Sweeney said. “This has been among the best assignments I’ve had.”

He said he appreciates working with people from various federal agencies and helping to answer questions and resolve issues at 300 military treatment facilities worldwide.

“It’s amazing to get thank-yous from customers, where patients who were sick and awaiting medication,” Sweeney said. “And we had a piece of getting that medication to them.”