Jonathan Woodson, MD

Dr. Woodson administers the Military Health System (MHS) budget and serves as principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for health issues. The MHS comprises over 133,000 military and civilian healthcare providers worldwide, providing unequalled integrated healthcare delivery, and expeditionary medical, educational, and research capability. Dr. Woodson oversees the development of medical policies, analyses, and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness. He is responsible for managing all TRICARE health and medical resources, and for supervising and administering medical and dental programs serving more than 9.6 million beneficiaries. TRICARE® is the health care program serving Uniformed Service members, retirees and their families worldwide. He also manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) and the DoD Unified Medical Program.

Previously, Dr. Woodson was Associate Dean for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Professor of Surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine, and senior attending vascular surgeon at Boston Medical Center. He holds the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve, and served as Assistant Surgeon General for Reserve Affairs, Force Structure and Mobilization in the Office of the Surgeon General, and as Deputy Commander of the Army Reserve Medical Command. His served in Saudi Arabia (Operation Desert Storm), Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a Senior Medical Officer with the National Disaster Management System, he responded to the September 11th attack in New York City. Dr. Woodson’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster).

Dr. Woodson is a graduate of the City College of New York and the New York University School of Medicine. He received postgraduate medical education at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and completed residency in internal medicine and general and vascular surgery. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.