Michael E. Kilpatrick, M.D., is the Deputy Director, Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness.
He is responsible for the coordination of efforts across nine programs to improve, protect, and sustain service member health and resilience, as well as to ensure optimal mission performance across global military activities and operations. He also leads strategic communication efforts for Force Health Protection and Readiness and other Health Affairs/TRICARE Management Activity programs. Dr. Kilpatrick brings extensive experience in clinical care, medical research and leadership, and strategic communications to these efforts.
Dr. Kilpatrick has been working on deployment related health concerns for DoD since 1997, first as the medical advisor to the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illness, and then as the deputy director for Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs. In 2007 he was named as director, MHS Strategic Communications and recently served as interim director, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Dr. Kilpatrick earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University, and his Medical Degree from the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency and an Infectious Disease fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He has co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications on tropical medicine and infectious diseases.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1974 to 1999. His first assignment was as a staff physician in the Infectious Disease division at the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego. He then served five tours with the Medical Research and Development Command including assignments in Egypt and Peru, studying infectious diseases in areas of the world where military personnel may need to deploy. He was executive officer of the Naval Hospital in Orlando, Florida, and commanded the Naval Hospital in Millington, Tennessee.
Dr. Kilpatrick completed his Navy career as the senior medical advisor to the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses. He was selected to the Senior Executive Service in 2000.
Dr. Kilpatrick’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service medals, and the Peruvian Navy Cross.
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