Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division-AFHSD

06/24/2026

AFHSD celebrates Bug Week! 🕷️🦟 Did you know that vectors are living organisms—like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas—that transmit infectious diseases to humans? To protect our Joint Force, the GEIS Febrile and Vector-borne Infections team supports surveillance of those front lines. The team helps track pathogens by linking acute febrile illness syndromes directly to the bugs that carry them. They also use data to map threat zones and evaluate safeguards. This , we are committed to keeping our military healthy and ready! 🛡️

06/23/2026

AFHSD celebrates Bug Week. Day #1
Small bugs, big threats. 🦗🌎 Vectors are living organisms that carry health illnesses, posing a constant challenge to global military operations. This , we are highlighting how the GEIS Febrile and Vector-borne Infections team supports the fight. The GEIS Branch funds infectious disease surveillance to identify threats and diagnostic gaps through its global network of laboratory partners to protect warfighters. Knowledge and informed action is our best defense against vector-borne illness! 💪

06/12/2026

During a quarterly Coffee with the Captains event, AFHSD's Division Chief, Capt. Richard Langton and Deputy Chief Capt. Carlos Williams met with staff to share insights from public health and recognize military members in honor of their work and commitment to the health surveillance mission.

06/10/2026

On May 21 U.S. Army Maj. Hunter Smith received two awards recognizing his accomplishments at AFHSD. Over the last four years, Smith helped establish a globally coordinated network for enteric pathogen surveillance as the Focus Area Lead for Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections for the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Branch.

The Defense Meritorious Service Medal recognized his support to establish a globally coordinated network for enteric pathogen surveillance. Smith led multiple inter-agency health projects and served as a Department of War representative on several national task forces.

As a recipient of the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Smith planned and coordinated a special supplement in the CDC’s Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases. The supplement included 18 manuscripts from 18 Department of War laboratories. The issue focused on advances in the detection and characterization of emerging pathogens and represented the contributions of disease surveillance and military readiness.

06/10/2026

U.S. Air Force Maj. Manuel Moncada received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal on May 21. He served as the Surveillance and Laboratory Field Operations Lead for the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance Branch.

In this position, Moncada provided oversight of a multi-million dollar respiratory infections surveillance portfolio that informed the Food and Drug Administration’s annual influenza vaccine selection. He also drove annual laboratory capability surveys that provided an inventory of global biosurveillance assets, enabling strategic planning across the enterprise.

As the leader for the Pathogen Detection Project 2.0, Moncada benchmarked the capabilities of Department of War laboratories against novel biological threats.

Moncada served at AFHSD from June 2022 to 2026 and will soon take on a new role in Nevada.

06/05/2026

The Epidemiology and Analysis Branch welcomed the newest preventive medicine residents from Uniformed Services University. During their rotation, the residents will focus on health surveillance and epidemiology training. We're glad to have you!

06/04/2026

Our team joined over 2,600 attendees in Dallas, Texas at the 2026 Military Health System Conference! AFHSD team members joined panels and led discussions about health surveillance topics and biosurveillance efforts within the Defense Health network.

05/18/2026

We are thrilled to share the incredible work that AFHSD’s Global Emerging Infections Surveillance team coordinated during the African Lion 26 event. This effort targets one of AFHSD’s goals to provide early warning capability of global health threats to military commanders in the field. Read more about our impact!

AGADIR, Morocco — A coalition of U.S. military and research organizations deliver integrated biosurveillance support, strengthening commanders’ situatio...

05/05/2026

Whether you are active duty, a veteran, or a family member, taking a minute to stay informed helps keep our entire community mission-ready and healthy. Watch the short video below to get the latest insights straight from the Military Health System! 👇