Rear Admiral Edward M. Dieser, P.E.
U.S. Public Health Service Commission Corps Chief Engineer Officer

RADM Edward M. Dieser became the 14th Chief Engineer Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) on January 1, 2018. As the Chief Engineer, RADM Dieser advises the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on policy, resourcing, staffing, and leading professional affairs for engineers and architects working in the HHS and serving in its Commissioned Corps. He will also be responsible for advising the Office of the Surgeon General on the recruitment, retention, training, readiness, deployment, and career management of the Corps.

RADM Dieser began his Commissioned Corps career in 2005 as a Lieutenant Commander with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Office. His next assignment with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included service as CDC’s Environmental Manager, Environmental Protection and Radiation Safety Team Lead, and Environmental Management System Developer. His most recent role was the Deputy Associate Director for Emergency Management, National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Prior to joining the Commissioned Corps, RADM Dieser’s career included seven years as a consultant and eight years as a Medical Service Corps Officer with the U.S. Army rising to the rank of Captain. He served in three positions, including the Chief of the Environmental Engineering Division, while assigned to the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine in Landstuhl, Germany, predecessor to the Army Public Health Center (Europe). He commanded the 172nd Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine) at Hunter Army Airfield, GA and Fort Ord, CA. He was also the Interim Commander and Executive Officer for Company C, 232nd Medical Battalion at Fort Sam Houston, TX. RADM Dieser continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserve until 2003 as a Major.

RADM Dieser’s career includes a ship-board humanitarian deployment to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Marshall Islands, multiple deployments to Saudi Arabia and Bosnia, consulting in Kuwait and Korea, health response operations in Liberia, as well as various disaster response missions across the U.S. RADM Dieser received many PHS and Army awards for his outstanding service including the Meritorious Service Medal, Ebola Campaign Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation. He is also the recipient of the 2012 RADM Jerrold Michael and the 2010 Engineer Responder of the Year Awards.

RADM Dieser is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering and the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He is a life member of the Society of American Military Engineers, the Interagency Institute of Federal Healthcare Executives, and is a licensed professional engineer (North Carolina). RADM Dieser draws inspiration and support from his wife of 20 years, Avril, and their two teenage children, Edward and Adèlé.

A recognized life-long leader and learner, RADM Dieser is dedicated to the development of future engineers and architects, as well as public health professionals. He looks forward to partnering with the Surgeon General, as well as national and international leaders to advance health.