Commanding General's Biography
BG (P) (Dr.) Joseph Caravalho, Jr.
Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick
And Deputy for Medical Systems to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
Brigadier General (Promotable) Joseph Caravalho, Jr., M.D., graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Army ROTC Program. In 1983, he graduated with a Medical Doctorate from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, and was commissioned a Captain in the Medical Corps.
Clinically, BG (P) Caravalho held positions as a staff internist, nuclear medicine physician, and cardiologist. He served as Chief of Cardiology at Tripler Army Medical Center (AMC), Honolulu, HI, and as Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at Womack AMC, Fort Bragg, NC. His operational medical experience includes assignments as Surgeon, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Okinawa, Japan; Physician Augmentee, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg; Surgeon, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA; Deputy Chief of Staff, Surgeon, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg; and as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Health Affairs, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg. He also commanded the 28th Combat Support Hospital and the 44th Medical Command (Rear) (Provisional), both at Fort Bragg. He has two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, most recently serving as the Surgeon for both Multi-National Force-Iraq and Multi-National Corps-Iraq. After his last deployment, he served as the Commanding General for Great Plains Regional Medical Command (RMC), and then, following USAMEDCOM reorganization, for both Southern RMC and Brooke AMC, both at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Before coming to the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, BG (P) Caravalho served as Commanding General, Northern RMC, Fort Belvoir, VA.
BG (P) Caravalho is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He earned the Special Forces and Ranger tabs and was awarded the Expert Field Medical Badge. He completed the Army Airborne and Flight Surgeon schools, as well as the Navy Dive Medical Officer and SCUBA courses. He holds current certification in nuclear cardiology. His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), Legion of Merit (OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), Joint and Army Commendation Medals, and the Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC). He is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.
BG (P) Caravalho has been married for over 28 years and has two adult children.