‘Build a Stronger DHA Staff’: New Education & Training Chief Takes Charge at DHA

'Build a Stronger DHA Staff': New Education & Training Chief Takes Charge at DHA

U.S. Army Col. Ryan Bible never saw himself being a Department of Defense health care and training leader-just as he didn't predict much of his military career.

"Working for the Defense Health Agency was not anywhere on my 10-year plan. Much like my path to the army, my path to DHA was more of a fortunate coincidence than a well thought-out, planned event," said Bible.

In August 2024, Bible was named the director of the DHA Education and Training Directorate, also known as J-7.DHA Education and Training DirectorateHe oversees activities such as the Continuing Education Program Office, Enterprise Professional Development, the DHA Academy, the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, the agency's medical modeling and simulation program. He previously served as executive officer to the Surgeon General and Commanding General for U.S. Army Medical Command.

With a degree focused on environmental studies in 1997, he enlisted into the U.S. Army as a preventive medicine technician, where he "entered the Army Medical Department a bit by accident." In 2001, he received a direct commission into the Medical Service Corps as an environmental science and engineering officer.

"It certainly was not a well-thought-out path to the Army medical department," said Bible. "I stumbled into it quite luckily."

Yet his first steps in his career all led to his newest role at the DHA.

Passion for Education and Training Led to Current Career Path

He believes his time as a commander, and his variety of roles in the public health sector, have helped him prepare for this new role.

"Public health professionals … are educators," he said. "We're constantly teaching classes, and your primary function as a commander is to train your unit. It's always been about training for me."

Bible said he became further interested in and developed his "love for the training and education realm," when he was an instructor with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Texas A&M University and is "excited by the opportunity."

"I'm surrounded by exceptionally competent and capable educators, curriculum developers … incredibly highly educated and competent folks in training and education," he said. "What I think I bring to the team, is a tremendous amount of staff experience."

Director's Vision for DHA Guides Direction for J-7

He is excited about working for a friend and mentor of his, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of DHA.

"She's always been someone that I've sought the advice of," said Bible. "It is wonderful to be back under her leadership. Her leadership has always really spoken to me."

Bible said it's his and his staff's responsibility to "lay the foundation necessary to accomplish the director's strategic objectives."

He points out two of the director's main objectives for the DHA where the J-7 can support: reattract enrollment to military hospitals and clinics, and address budgetary concerns.

"We need people to come and see us, and in doing that, our providers will be happier. They'll be happier because they'll be seeing patients, and the patients will be happier because they'll be getting quality care," Bible said.

Bible said continued success of education and training starts with ensuring staff are satisfied and thriving in their work.

"We need to train our staff and our providers about both the director's vision as well as their technical skills," he said. "People feel good about coming to work for an organization that's willing to invest in them, and that's exactly what education and training is. It is an investment in our people."

He is also taking the director's call to be more efficient and fiscally responsible.

He explained he is "driven to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiencies. I find it incredibly rewarding if I can contribute to that a little bit."

Improving communication across the system is another way to ensure the director's message is being heard and J-7 is working with other entities to provide training and education to all that want to partake, Bible said.

"In order to provide a maximum value to our customer, whether that's another staff officer or whether that is a clinician or an administrator, we need to communicate well, so I would like to increase communication by getting to know these folks."

Quality Training Opportunities Is Strategic Priority

Bible is committed to strengthening the DHA's workforce through high-quality training opportunities and professional development to support a broad range of functions - a key component of the DHA Director's strategic initiatives, "Dedicated and Inspired Teams of Professionals Driving Military Health's Next Evolution."

Getting Started

He acknowledges he has a lot to learn and get used to, and he says he has a top-notch staff to help.

Bible said, "I have never fallen in on a more capable, more competent team. This staff is exceptional, and I am incredibly impressed with everyone around me. They're firing on all cylinders. They're incredibly impressive, both on paper and in person. I've got a great team."