Joe Donnelly: “today I wish to recognize the efforts of RADM Joan Hunter during her tenure as the Assistant Joint Surgeon at the…”

“today I wish to recognize the efforts of RADM Joan Hunter during her tenure as the Assistant Joint Surgeon at the National Guard Bureau, Joint Surgeon General's Office, Psychological Health, NGB, JSG-PH. In this capacity, RADM Hunter has served as principal staff and adviser to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. As a member of the Joint Surgeon's Office, RADM Hunter partnered with the J1, Manpower and Personnel Directorate, and the J32, the Counterdrug Division, to direct services to address the psychological health needs of Guard members and their families. Her most significant contribution was building the National Guard's psychological health program, which meant placing a director of psychological health in every State, wing, and territory based on the Department of Defense's Mental Health Task Force Report recommendations. As a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, RADM Hunter is a shining example of how the whole government can come together to address mental health issues in our military. I have had the honor and pleasure of working closely with RADM Hunter during her time at NGB, and I am grateful for her leadership, energy, and innovation. Mental health is a critical readiness issue for all our servicemembers, and the Department of Defense has made important progress in improving the mental health and resilience of our force.…”