United States Army Military Entomology Jobs & Descriptions

 

Click on the links below to look at jobs with primary duties in specific categories:

 

 

 

Medical Entomologist, Regional Medical Center:  As the entomology consultant for Great Plains Regional Medical Command/ Brooke Army Medical Center you are in the perfect position to provide entomological guidance on the health and safety aspects of pest management along with being actively involved in surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases and other medically important arthropods and plants.  You will work for 20 U.S. Army installations within a 16-state region of the United States.  This is a 1st Lieutenant position in San Antonio, TX, that will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about entomology in the US Army - jump right in to this very active program!

 

Medical Entomologist, Medical Activity (MEDACC) or Medical Center (MEDCEN):  These are entry level jobs at Ft. Hood, TX; Fort Bragg, NC; or Fort Stewart, GA.  As an incoming medical entomologist, you may find these interesting positions open to you.  You will work as an entomology consultant for the installation and will be responsible for the disease-vector surveillance program.  You will have opportunities to learn about a variety of other areas as well, such as food and water safety, epidemiology, biomedical and hazardous waste issues, environmental compliance, and hospital infection control.  The sky's the limit!  This may be one of your first opportunities in the military to be a direct supervisor for civilian and junior Soldiers.  

 

Medical Entomologist, Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (CHPPM):  There are numerous positions for officers of various ranks at CHPPMs around the world at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; Landstuhl, Germany; Fort McPherson, GA; Fort Lewis, WA; Ft Meade, MD; and Tokyo, Japan.  Your job may range from a special project officer to Entomological Division Chief or even CHPPM Commander as your rank and experience increase.  As with most careers, when you move up in rank or seniority, you will have more responsibility for people, budgets, programs, etc.  The multiple positions available in the CHPPMs are no different and will be tailored for your rank.  CHPPM jobs are a great place for new military entomologists to learn the ropes and usually provide lots of hands-on experience.   Your opportunities may include west nile virus or hantavirus surveillance; traveling to various installations to train units on pest management and biomonitoring equipment use;  participating in soil, water, and air quality analysis projects; providing vector identification services; conducting pesticide program review, developing medical threat briefings; and many, many more.

 

Executive Officer, Medical Detachment:  The executive officer (XO) supports and executes guidance of the detachment commander in training and executing unit operation involving pest surveillance and control, field and food service sanitation, industrial hygiene consultations, medical threat assessments, epidemiology, and water analysis for deploying units.  As an XO, you will be responsible to the commander for maintenance operations, unit movement, logistical operations, unit status report preparation, unit security, and other duties as assigned.  This is a position that really helps incoming military entomologists understand the structure and function of military units.  You will be part of a small, but very dedicated group of highly skilled Soldiers – among the best in the US Army!  Captain level positions are available in Daegu, Korea; Seoul, Korea; Grafenwoehr, Germany; Hanau, Germany; Fort Hood (Killeen), TX; Fort Bragg (Fayetteville), NC;  Fort Polk, Louisiana;   Fort Stewart (Hinesville), GA; Fort Benning (Columbus), GA; Fort Campbell, KY;  Fort Carson (near Colorado Springs), CO; Fort Lewis (near Tacoma), WA. 

 

Commander, Medical Detachment:  Command has been described as “the toughest job you will ever love.”  As unit commanders in a Medical Detachment you are ultimately responsible for training, equipping, and deploying the unit to provide effective preventive medicine support across the full spectrum of military operations.  The support you will provide includes environmental health services (water quality assurance, field sanitation, food protection, and waste management), entomology surveillance and vector control, epidemiology, and medical threat assessments.  You will really have a chance to demonstrate your organizational abilities and ‘people skills’ as the Commander.  In a small unit such as a Medical Detachment, you may just find yourself part of a ‘family’ of Soldiers who will work tirelessly to protect their fellow Soldiers and the entire military community.  Major level positions are available in Daegu, Korea; Seoul, Korea; Grafenwoehr, Germany; Hanau, Germany; Fort Hood (Killeen), TX; Fort Bragg (Fayetteville), NC;  Fort Polk, Louisiana;   Fort Stewart (Hinesville), GA; Fort Benning (Columbus), GA; Fort Campbell, KY;  Fort Carson (near Colorado Springs), CO; Fort Lewis (near Tacoma), WA. 

 

Staff Officer, 30th Medical  Brigade/44th Medical Command:  Adventurous officers are attracted to these positions in Heidelberg, Germany and Fort Bragg, NC.  As a senior preventive medicine officer (Lieutenant Colonel), you will assists in mission execution and oversight of deployable preventive medicine units. You will also plan and coordinate force health protection policy, programs, and operations concerning medical threat information, medical readiness of Soldiers, field preventive medicine issues, hazardous chemical management, and infectious and zoonotic disease prevention.  You may work in humanitarian and/or combat environments, so flexibility is key.  If you serve in the 44th Medical Command you will be part of the only Airborne Medical Command in the U.S. Army, so if you’re interested, get your ‘jump school’ completed early in your career.  

 

Staff Officer, Information Services Division:  This center, collocated with the AFPMB, is staffed by Army, Navy, Air Force, DoD civilian pest management professionals, and civilian contractors who collectively are responsible for timely and accurate dissemination of preventive medicine and vector control information of vital importance to all members of the DoD community around the world.  Lifelong learners and true entomophiles will love working here - opportunities for professional development abound.  You will be encouraged to participate in a variety of activities promoting and supporting military entomology, including speaking at professional conferences, participating in recruiting trips to universities, and leading interagency working groups on entomological issues that are of shared interest.  If you are a Major or Lieutenant Colonel, look at your Information Services Division options.

 

 

Research Entomologist, Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU):  For entomologists with a love of taxonomy and systematics, this is a position to whet your appetite.  As an entomologist (Captain) at WRBU, you will work at the incomparable Smithsonian Institution in the Museum Support Center.  You will be involved in research efforts to develop accurate and reliable means of identifying vectors of human arbopathogens of importance to the DoD.  Specific objectives include: (1) to describe and illustrate all the species in the study, (2) to resolve any taxonomic problems, (3) to develop effective keys for identifying all life stages of the species under study, (4) to provide basic biological and ecological data useful in understanding the epidemiology and prevention of diseases and the control of vector species, (5) to provide data concerning the medical importance of each species, and (6) to train personnel in field studies and biosystematics research. A collaborative multidisciplinary approach to biosystematics is used when feasible. 

 

Research Entomologist, The United States Army Medical Research Institute for infectious diseases (USAMRIID):  Interested in research?  You may be assigned as a research entomologist or as the Chief of the Entomological Division.  Entry level positions will allow you to stretch your wings and get involved in global research programs focusing on arthropod-borne diseases of military importance and arthropod-borne diseases that are potential biological warfare threat agents or require biosafety containment.  You will collaborate with scientists at Army and Navy laboratories around the world.  In addition to your research activities, you will provide preventive medicine leadership, expertise, and training to preventive medicine specialists at USAMRIID and Fort Detrick, MD.

 

Research Entomologist, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR):  Research beckons from Silver Spring, Maryland; Bangkok, Thailand; and Nairobi, Kenya for the officers securing these positions.   Opportunities are available for Captains and above.  Areas of research include risk assessment of malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, and other vector-borne diseases and emerging pathogens; development of new methods for vector control and personal protection; identification of insect vectors using molecular techniques; and development of rapid, PCR-based field assays for detection of dengue and other arboviruses in mosquitoes.  Ultimately, you may become a director of research and will supervise your own team of highly-qualified professionals conducting basic and applied research.

 

 

Instructor, Medical Zoology Branch, AC&S:  If you enjoy teaching – this is the job for you!  You will be responsible for training and mentoring enlisted service members and officers, DOD civilians and contract personnel in preventive medicine, entomology, and insect/vector control.  Your students will range from high school graduates to Ph.D.s and the teaching will involve both classroom training and field work.  Bring your enthusiasm and expertise and you will find this to be a very rewarding position.  If pure teaching is not enough, you may also become a Project Officer for a very unique computer-based distance learning project or even curator of the sizeable insect collection that is maintained for educational purposes.  There are two Captain positions in San Antonio, TX.  Further into your career (Lieutenant Colonel) you might be selected to be the Chief of this organization; a job requiring keen focus on providing the best education possible to a diverse student base.   

 

Assistant Professor, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences:  This is the ‘classic’ academic position.  You will be an Assistant Professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences with the same responsibilities of an assistant professor in any major university.  You will develop curricula for courses in tropical diseases and public health, emphasizing medical entomology, parasitology, disease ecology, and military field preventive medicine.  You will also conduct and supervise laboratory and field research, write and review experimental protocols, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and participate in professional organizations.  This is a Lieutenant Colonel position in Bethesda, MD. 

 

 

Command Entomologist, Defense Logistic Agency (DLA):  At DLA in Fort Belvoir, VA, you will have a chance to build and hone your administrative skills at the Lieutenant Colonel level.  Your formal duties involve coordination, consultation and guidance to DLA Headquarters, installations, and material managers on all aspects of entomology and pest management including manpower requirements, operational needs, medical and environmental impact, and procedural matters.  You will spend a significant amount of time acting as liaison between the Military services and DLA supply centers.  However, if this isn’t enough to pique your interest – never fear!  The DLA is also heavily involved in natural resources conservation and endangered species recovery.  You could become part of one of several recovery projects such as the ongoing and successful palos verdes blue butterfly recovery program in southern California...or work to develop a new project of your own.   

  

Medical Entomologist, Program Office for Preventive Medicine (POPM):   As a senior officer (Lieutenant Colonel) with diverse experience, you should be eager to accept this visible position.  You Develop U.S. Army and U. S. Army Medical Command policy and guidance to protect and promote health, improve effectiveness, and enhance the environment of Army personnel.  You will be the spokesperson and representative of prevention and population medicine in Army Medical Department strategic planning.  A solid foundation in military entomology as well as highly effective speaking and writing capabilities will help you excel at this job.  

 

Staff Officer, Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB):  The Board offers several positions for officers from Major to Colonel.  The Board is “purple,” meaning there are representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force working there.  These are intriguing jobs that will provide you the opportunity to make and influence policy that will impact military entomology issues around the world and at the highest levels in the DoD.  You may find yourself responding to inquiries from Congress, offices in the Pentagon, all military services, other federal agencies, and industry on pest management issues of interest to DoD.  You may look forward to holding one or more of the following positions.  The Executive Director is a principal staff assistant for the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and Environment who develops policies, programs and guidance regarding pest management activities for the total Department of Defense in peacetime and war.  The Contingency Liaison Officer (CLO) plays a critical role in coordinating readiness and deployment policies and communicating between the Board and a huge worldwide DoD constituency.  The CLO is also an entomology liaison for appropriate NATO and other host nation agencies.  The Research Liaison Officer (RLO) primarily directs the development of Department of Defense requirements for pest management research, technology development and testing by DoD components and federal agencies conducting research of interest.  The RLO also promotes cooperative research with other federal departments, federal laboratory research directors and funding agencies.  The AFPMB is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, slightly north of Washington, D.C.