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<p>STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL MATTHEW L. NATHAN, MC, USN, SURGEON GENERAL OF THE NAVY BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY PERSONNEL OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.<br><br>Navy Medicine Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&amp;E) is foundational to our mission of force health protection. Cutting-edge RDT&amp;E programs bolster both our current and future capabilities and help sustain a culture of excellence. Recognizing how important it is to keep pace with emerging requirements and leverage opportunities in these areas, I established a new flag officer-led Headquarters code for research and development, Deputy Chief for Research and Development. This strategy-driven realignment targets improved policy development, assessment, oversight and resource management in our RDT&amp;E portfolio.<br><br>Our 2013 Navy Medicine Charted Course reflects strategic goals of (1) Readiness; (2) Value; and (3) Jointness. These key priorities are fully synchronized with our RDT&amp;E efforts, particularly those focused on psychological health, traumatic brain injury and suicide prevention. All of us recognize the impact on our force and families brought about by 12 years of war and the increased operational tempo. In response to these challenges, we continue to invest in programs of support, treatment and research which are focused on building resiliency, navigating operational stress and fostering psychological health. Navy Medicine’s  psychological health programs support the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions, including the seamless transition of service members throughout the recovery and reintegration process. Our efforts have targeted ensuring appropriate staffing, meeting access standards, identifying recommended and standardized evidence-based practices, reducing stigma and barriers to care and making sound investments in research. Within the context of our Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (PH-TBI) portfolio, we fund a broad variety of programs and projects, all falling under one of five priorities: Access to Care; Quality of Care; Resilience; Surveillance and Screening and Transition of Care."<br><br></p>
<br>Subjects: PTSD; mental health; traumatic brain injury; Congressional testimony</div>
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U.S. Navy. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery</div>
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