She previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness (FHP&R), overseeing Department-wide efforts to develop and implement policies and programs relating to DoD deployment medicine, force health protection, medical readiness, and national disaster support for 2.3 million Service members.

Under her direction, Force Health Protection and Readiness Policy and Programs proactively addresses deployment-related health threats to the welfare of U.S. Service members and their families, and integrates medical lessons learned from previous conflicts into current policy, doctrine and practice. This dynamic process involves all components of the military health care system, emphasizing the relationship between military medicine and the fighting forces it supports.

The health care policies and programs overseen or developed since her appointment in January 2002 have ensured that the health care needs of the more than 1.4 million Service members deployed to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom since 2001 have been met, and that comprehensive deployment health information has been provided to their families.

In February 2004, Ms. Embrey was appointed to organize and lead the DoD Task Force on Care for Victims of Sexual Assaults. For three months, the Task Force reviewed the treatment and care of victims of sexual assault, with particular attention paid to those in the theater of combat. The Task Force’s recommendations led to the establishment of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, a single point of accountability for addressing sexual assault matters.

Before joining the Office of Health Affairs, Ms. Embrey served in a variety of senior- and executive-level positions in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (OASD/RA) where she worked to ensure that the Reserve Components, which comprise more than half the U.S. military, were adequately trained, equipped and ready to serve when needed.

During the nine-month presidential transition period in 2001, Ms. Embrey performed the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. From 2000 to 2001, she served as Chief of Staff of that office, and from 1998 to 2001 as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Assistance to Civil Authorities.

Prior to her service with the Office of Reserve Affairs, Ms. Embrey held a variety of senior staff and management positions relating to Reserve Component program analysis and oversight, fiscal and budget oversight, legislative and intergovernmental relations, and information and resource management.

From 1981 to 1987, Ms. Embrey held various staff and management positions at the Defense Contract Audit Agency Headquarters, and from 1978 to 1981 served in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Ms. Embrey began her career as a management intern at the U.S. Civil Service Commission in 1976. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and was twice awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

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