Group seeks a smooth transition to White Oak

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FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

LCDR Stephan Ortiz

The Commissioned Corp White Oak Working Group was established to identify and address the needs of Commissioned Corps officers as the FDA continues its transition to the White Oak campus. Betsy Bretz, chair of the LABQUEST group, is credited with proposing the creation of this group. Soon thereafter, upon receiving the blessing from RADM Steven Galson, Center Director, the working group was created. The working group is chaired by me, and its members, from several FDA centers, include both Public Health Service commissioned officers and civilians. The working group has identified and addressed many needs in its first few months.

Much of our initial efforts have been aimed at increasing the visibility of the Commissioned Corps on the White Oak campus. We have helped create the format of a temporary sign for the White Oak campus that will include the Public Health Service logo, along with the HHS and FDA logos. Indoor U.S. and PHS flags have been purchased and will soon be displayed in the lobbies of buildings 21, 22 and the Life Sciences Building, as well as conference room 2205 in building 22. We are currently working to get the outdoor nautical flagpole refurbished and furnished with U.S., Maryland, PHS and FDA flags in time for the dual FDA Centennial celebration and Central Shared Use Building dedication in mid-September. Additionally, we have worked to ensure the presence of the PHS Ensemble and/or Color Guard for participation in all FDA Centennial-related events scheduled through the end of year.

Other topics the group has worked on include creation of a three-quarter mile path with one-quarter mile mark offs, to accommodate the physical fitness training requirements of all corps officers. We hope to coordinate frequent group-facilitated annual physical fitness tests on the White Oak campus in the near future. Additionally, an information e-mail distribution list that includes all commissioned officers at White Oak or scheduled to move to White Oak.

We meet once monthly to provide updates on progress made and to offer new topics for discussion. If you are interested in becoming a working member of this group or have ideas for consideration, you can contact me e-mail or by phone at (301) 796-1584.

Stephan Ortiz is a regulatory review officer in the Office of Translational Sciences.

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Date created: September 14, 2006