News Releases

Army Nurse Corps Chief to Speak at School of Nursing Convocation

May 12, 2005

Baltimore, Md. – Major General Gale Susan Pollock, the 22nd Chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, will deliver the Convocation address at the University of Maryland School of Nursing's graduation ceremony, being held at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 20, at the Lyric Opera House. The School of Nursing will graduate the largest class of nurses in the state – 395 bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), 180 master of science, 15 post-master's and 13 PhDs – a total of 603 graduates. Later in the day, Pollock will receive an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, at their Commencement exercises at First Mariner Arena (3 p.m.).

An alumna of the School of Nursing, Pollock received her BSN in 1976 through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing program. She received a master's in business administration from Boston University, a master's in health care administration from Baylor University, and a master's in national security and strategy from the National Defense University. She is a certified registered nurse anesthetist and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Pollock's military education includes Senior Service College at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the U.S. Air Force Air War College, the Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives, the Military Health System CAPSTONE program, the Principles of Advanced Nurse Administrators and the NATO Staff Officer Course.

Pollock's past military assignments include special assistant to the Surgeon General for Information Management and Health Policy; commander, Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga.; commander, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, Fort Drum, N.Y.; staff officer, Strategic Initiatives Command Group for the Army Surgeon General; Department of Defense (DOD) health care advisor to the Congressional Commission on Service members and Veterans Transition Assistance; health fitness advisor at the National Defense University; senior policy analyst in Health Affairs, DOD; and chief, Anesthesia Nursing Service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Pollock's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. She earned the coveted Expert Field Medic Badge, and she is proud to wear the Parachutist Badge. She received the Army Staff Identification Badge for her work at the Pentagon and also earned the German Armed Forces Military Efficiency Badge “Leistungsabzeichen” in gold.