U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Department of Defense – Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve has named Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar, Chief Medical Officer of the VI Department of Health, “Champion of the Year” for her exceptional leadership in supporting its USVI wellness mission.
The Department of Defense – Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve oversees the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program which provides no-cost medical services to jurisdictions across the US and its territories. In 2023, Dr. Hunte-Ceasar, on behalf of the VI Department of Health, applied to the IRT for its medical mission. In June, the IRT brought its deployed to the USVI to provide residents with basic medical, dental and optometry services as part of the VI Department of Health’s USVI Wellness Fair.
Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion praised Dr. Hunte-Ceasar’s performance.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Hunte-Ceasar. She led this initiative with extraordinary skill, assembling a dedicated team to manage logistics, collaborate with healthcare providers, and engage with community businesses and government agencies,” Commissioner Encarnacion said. “Dr. Hunte-Ceasar remained steadfast and focused. Her dedication to decreasing health disparities in the VI was shown in her determination to expand access to care by introducing no-cost medical services to both districts.”
In early August, the Department of Defense’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve recognized Dr. Hunte-Ceasar with this prestigious award.
Dr. Hunte-Ceasar accepted the award during a ceremony at the 2024 Joint Workshop for Operational Mission Planners at the Logistics Management Institute in Tysons, Va., on August 29, attended by her husband, Christopher Ceasar.
According to correspondence from the Office of the Assistant Secretary, “each year, IRT leaders select several individuals who have gone above and beyond to implement IRT’s mission.
“An awards panel chose you among all submissions for the Champion of the Year for your work planning and executing an IRT mission while displaying exemplary leadership by identifying opportunities to increase readiness and encouraging collaboration and innovation,” it stated.
Following a year of meticulous planning, the IRT deployed about 300 military medical professionals and support staff to the USVI, delivering $2.25 million in medical services to 2,112 residents over a week.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition,” Dr. Hunte-Ceasar said. “This award is also a testament to the hard work of the entire VI Department of Health team. I also extend my gratitude to Commissioner Encarnacion and Governor Albert Bryan Jr. for their unwavering support in making this mission a success.”
The IRT mission was part of Governor Bryan’s Healthier Horizons initiative to strengthen families and improve health outcomes. Dr. Hunte-Ceasar and the IRT are now planning their 2025 mission to continue providing no-cost medical care to residents.
