[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E15-E16]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING COLONEL CHRISTOPHER DRUM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2024

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank and congratulate Colonel 
Christopher Drum for thirty years of dedicated, exceptional service to 
our country.
  Throughout the last thirty years, Colonel Drum has distinguished 
himself as a leader. His career with the U.S. Army began in June 1994, 
and he has proven to be an asset throughout that time. Since June 2014, 
Colonel Drum has held various positions within the Army Medical 
Department (AMEDD) and Military Health System (MHS). He has led many 
teams and provided direct support to senior Army and Department of 
Defense (DoD) medical leaders to advance Army Medicine and Military 
Health System (MHS) goals. Most recently, he has served as MEDCOM's 
Medical Command Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Facilities in Falls 
Church, Virginia.
  In 2013, then-Lieutenant colonel Drum was competitively selected to 
the Army Surgeon General (TSG)/MEDCOM Commanding General's Commander's 
Initiative Group (CIG) as a Special Assistant to the Army Surgeon 
General. While in this role, he helped plan and execute TSG's 
international trip to the Pacific Command area of responsibility. This 
trip was key to strengthening MEDCOM's partnerships; ensuring the visit 
to Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand aligned with the Army's ``Pivot to the 
Pacific;'' and extending Army Medicine's influence with key 
international partners.
  Soon after, Lieutenant colonel Drum was asked to become the U.S. Army 
Health Facility Planning Agency's Deputy Commander. While in this role, 
he led a multi-disciplinary team in the execution of the largest DoD 
healthcare capital investment program since World War II. Throughout 
the capital investment process, he provided support by preparing and 
briefing senior Army Medicine leaders for key Congressional, DoD, and 
Army-level engagements supporting Army's $6.3 billion capital 
investment program.
  In 2016, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned as the DHA 
Facilities Division Chief

[[Page E16]]

of Capital Strategy Management Branch. There, he assumed the lead for 
the development and execution of multiple MHS capital investment 
planning processes supporting a $33 billion global facility portfolio 
of 49 hospitals and 560 medical and dental clinics. He successfully 
steered his team and updated several key processes to aid in the 
planning and execution of capital investments.
  Colonel Drum's leadership skills proved essential once more in April 
2018, when he was selected to lead the DHA FY17 National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) transition. He was then picked to 
simultaneously serve as the Chief of the DHA Director's Action Group 
(DAG). As DAG Chief, Colonel Drum and his multi-disciplinary team 
oversaw, developed, and managed the DHA Director's executive 
communications, strategic engagements, and special initiatives, as well 
as maintained archival and analytics capabilities for the DHA Front 
Office in support of DHA's strategy goals. During this period, the DHA 
Director's number of strategic engagements increased by nearly 200 
percent. A lifelong learner, he was concurrently enrolled in the U.S. 
Army War College while in this role. There, he expanded his 
professional military and executive leadership skills and earned a 
master's in strategic studies.
  In his latest role as Medical Command Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff 
for Facilities, Colonel Drum's leadership has been essential. In this 
role, he focused on positive organizational change and facilitated the 
transformation of MEDCOM through the reevaluation of roles, 
responsibilities, and essential services focused on Army Readiness.
  Colonel Drum's service on behalf of our nation, his camaraderie, and 
his leadership have proven to be assets across the span of his career. 
His expertise and experience have been invaluable to the many who 
benefit from the services rendered through Army Medicine and the 
Military Health System, and his dedication to service has served as a 
guide for the various teams he has led throughout his career.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating and 
thanking Colonel Christopher Drum for his service on behalf of our 
country, his leadership, and his dedication to excellence as part of 
the U.S. Army. I wish him the best as he retires to spend time with 
friends and loved ones.

                          ____________________