Page 8 - JSOM Summer 2025

fromthe

SOMA PRESIDENT

SOMA Members and JSOM Readers, week. As national and international priori-
ties stabilize over the next year, we eagerly
await SOMA 2026 and anticipate further
Stability Amid Uncertainty
growth and opportunities at next year’s
In today’s somewhat uncertain environ- meeting in Raleigh.
ment, I’m very pleased to report that COL (Ret) Sean Keenan, MDMD
(Ret)
K
eenan
COL
Sean
SOMA 2025 was a huge success! Meeting A Solid Foundation of Leadership
in early May in Raleigh, NC, we had a tremendous turnout—
just over 1,500 registrants—and marked some “firsts” for the As I move into the second half of my service as President,
organization. Among our 60 labs and close to 400 speakers, I’m delighted to welcome our newest Board Members and
we kicked off the week with a compelling call to action by the recognize our outgoing members. Completing their terms of
Sergeant Major of the Army, Michael Weimer. His long and service were our non-military Vice President, Taylor George,
distinguished history of serving in U.S. Army Special Opera- and Board Members at Large, Ricky Ditzel and John Stein-
tions made him the ideal leader to reflect on the past and set baugh. Of note, this year brought out the talent and depth of
priorities for the future. We also welcomed Acting Deputy As- our membership, with an incredibly robust selection of new
sistant Secretary of Defense for Irregular Warfare and Coun- leadership during our annual election. All three of our newest
terterrorism, Rob Satrom, while COL (retired) Craig Llewellyn Board Members are well known to the membership, partic-
shared reflections on our past. The wounded warrior presen- ularly as (very) active members of our organization. As an-
tation, a highlight of the morning, reminded us that what we nounced both online and during the SOMA Business Meeting,
do truly matters, and we hosted, for the second year in a row, I’m excited to welcome Dr. Jason “JR” Pickett into the role
the USSOCOM’s Medical Hall of Honor induction ceremony. of non-military Vice President. JR is well known for his lead-
This turnout, despite restrictions on U.S. Military travel and ership both as a prehospital academic physician as well as a
competing professional meetings and obligations, solidified long-standing Army National Guard Special Forces Battalion
SOMA’s standing as the education and training meeting for Surgeon with 19th SFG(A). JR was a tactical medicine thought
Special Operations medical professionals. leader previously in Austin-Travis County EMS in Texas and
has moved up to his latest position in Salt Lake City, UT, as
Despite USSOCOM directly cutting authorizations for active an EMS academic leader. SFC Rick Caldwell, SEMA for the
duty members by over half, we hosted NATO’s SOF Medical 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and former Air Force
Engagement and Partnering (SOFMEP) meeting for the first Pararescueman, and LTC (Dr.) Andy Oh, Ranger Regimen-
time on U.S. soil as well as celebrated our recent collabora- tal Surgeon, have both been familiar faces at SOMA for their
tion with the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) leadership with the SOMA Program Committee. Andy led the
and their recognition of SOMA as their organization’s official Program Committee for the last few years, recently mentoring
Tactical EMS education offering. Air Force Special Warfare our current Program Committee leader team of Alex Merkle,
Development (AFSPECWAR) held their annual meeting of Air Chris Hewitt, and Noah Mitchell. We welcome Rick and Andy
Force SOF leaders during this week, and we welcomed both to our Board and congratulate them on being selected among
old and new international members, including many from the their peers to continue to serve SOMA.
Indo-Pacific region as well as South America. Our global reach
is undeniable; the symposium allows our “local” U.S. Military Growth and Expansion of
and civilian professionals to meet many of their international Opportunities for Members
colleagues. This highlights the incredible value of our meeting
to U.S. SOF and national tactical medicine interest groups. During these uncertain political times, we look to establish our
permanence as the professional SOF organization. As we ap-
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize our solid sup- proach four decades since our founding in 1987, we look to
port from industry and academia. Our vendors showed their other successful organizations, both in and outside of military
support in force, despite a very busy meeting and conference medicine, for best practices for ensuring longevity. Though our
season. In the midst of an uncertain fiscal environment, par- recent growth and successes with our annual meeting have
ticularly this year, over 150 booths and 560 booth represen- helped sustain us financially after the brief but significant
tatives attended our meeting, recognizing the tremendous pandemic-related downturn 5 years ago, we seek to establish
value of our venue to the community. Academia was also federal permanence and legitimacy in law. We have an active
represented, as displayed by the robust research track and the task force of former senior SOMA leaders working on this
many familiar and new faces that were present throughout the priority and, like many things that are worthwhile, patience

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