Rear Admiral (RADM) Thomas K. Burkhard, Medical Corps, United States Navy graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1969 and was commissioned a Line Ensign through the NROTC Program. His first duty station was aboard the minesweeper USS Whippoorwill (MSC 207) home ported in Sasebo, Japan on which he performed coastal patrols in South Vietnam. In 1971, he attended the Staff Mine Warfare Course at Naval Schools Mine Warfare in Charleston, S. C., and subsequently was assigned to the school as an instructor. At the conclusion of the Vietnam War, he was attached to the staff of Commander, Mobile Mine Countermeasures aboard USS New Orleans (LPH 11) where he participated in Operation ENDSWEEP clearing mines from North Vietnam waters. Resigning his Line Lieutenant commission in September 1973, he entered Duty Under Instruction at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and was commissioned an Ensign, United States Naval Reserve. Graduating in 1977, he reported to Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego where he completed his internship in 1978 and a Diagnostic Radiology residency in 1981. He was awarded the Outstanding Senior Resident Award in Diagnostic Radiology. Following residency training, he was stationed at U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam where he served as Radiology Department Head and Director for Ancillary Services. In 1984, he returned to Naval Hospital, San Diego as a staff radiologist and was awarded the "Golden Ray Award" by the radiology residents as the outstanding teacher. Upon completing an Imaging Fellowship in 1986, he became Assistant Chairman of Radiology and Division Head for Computerized Tomography/Ultrasound/Body MRI. Subsequently, he held the positions of Director for Ancillary Services, Medical Director, and Deputy Commander at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. From 1994 to 1996, he was the Deputy Commander at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda and then commanded Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton from January 1997 to July 2000. He served as Fleet Medical Officer for Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe until November 2002. He then assumed the position of Commander, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth and TRICARE Senior Multi-Service Market Manager. In August 2005, under a Bureau of Medicine and Surgery realignment, he assumed additional responsibilities as Commander, Navy Medicine East, directing the activities of 11Navy Military Treatment Facilities in the Continental United States and four facilities located in Europe until assuming his current position in February 2006. RADM Burkhard served as the Surgeon General's Advisor for Radiology from 1992 to 1995. He was appointed Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology/Nuclear Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1994 and has co-authored 15 radiology peer reviewed articles. He received a Certificate in Medical Management in 1997 from Tulane University and the American College of Physician Executives and was named a Certified Physician Healthcare Executive in 1998 by the American College of Physician Executives. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two stars, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with four stars, National Defense Service Medal with two stars, Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with four stars, Philippine Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.