Thomas Summers

Education

United States Military Academy - BS
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - MD
Southern Illinois University - MBA
U.S. Army War College - MSS

Biography

Colonel Tom Summers is the commander for the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL). He received his commission from the United States Military Academy and subsequently attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences where he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine. COL Summers completed his residency training in pathology in the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center and was subsequently selected for advanced fellowship training in hematopathology at the National Cancer Institute / National Institutes of Health under Dr. Elaine Jaffe.

Prior to his arrival at USAARL, COL Summers was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Support Operations, Medical Readiness Command East and Chief Medical Officer, Defense Health Network East. Previous assignments include service as a staff Pathologist, Hematopathologist, Pathology Residency program faculty, Director of Immunohistochemistry Section, and Director of the Murtha Cancer Center Biobank at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; Brigade Surgeon, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, Camp Casey, ROK; Medical School Faculty, Uniformed Services University; Chief, Department of Pathology, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; Command Surgeon and Senior Medical Officer, United States Army Cadet Command; and Chief Surgeon, Army Recovery Care Program, MEDCOM G-3/5/7.

Colonel Summers, a native of Taylorville, Illinois, is a board certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist with subspecialty board certification in Hematopathology. He is a Fellow of College of American Pathologists and is a recipient of The Surgeon General’s “A” proficiency designator. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and is completing a Master in Health Professions Education from the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr. Summers is a current member of the College of American Pathologists Inspection Process Committee and past member of the International Accreditation Committee and Biorepository Accreditation Program Resource Committee. He is a graduate of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Flight Surgeon Course, Airborne School, the Command and General Staff College, and a Superior Graduate of the U.S. Army War College.

COL Summers’ awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 OLC, the Joint Services Commendation Medal with OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 OLC, the Joint Services Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Flight Surgeon Badge, and the Parachutist’s Badge. He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.