It’s National Public Health Week! w/PH Career Field Manager, CMSgt Thomas “TJ” Wigington

Episode was recorded in August 2022 during the AFSA PEDS event. Chief Master Sergeant Thomas J. Wigington is the Public Health Career Field Manager, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia. Conversation Time-Stamps: 00:00 - How Chief mentored me in a time of need 02:30 - "It was a place I've been before - this PH is a PHamily" 03:15 - Career History 05:00 - A Life Changing Deployment 07:30 - Asking For Help (PTSD) 08:30 - A Message To All Public Health Airmen 09:00 - The Healing Journey of Self-Care 10:30 - Why EMEDS/TCCC Really Matter 12:00 - The Future of Public Health (What COV Taught Us) 15:50 - Why I Love Chief Wigington He serves as the senior enlisted consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General and Assistant Surgeon General Medical Force development, on issues impacting the morale, welfare, utilization and professional development of 1,425 Total Force enlisted personnel. He works directly with Air Force Medical Service senior leaders to develop policy to enhance the health and welfare of 2.1 million beneficiaries worldwide Chief Wigington entered the Air Force in July 1997. His breadth of experience includes various duties in the Public Health career field, in addition to serving as the Air Force Lead Enlisted Public Health Consultant, Wing Staff Agency Group Superintendent, Squadron Superintendent and Inspector General Superintendent. He also served in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and most recently DELIBERATE RESOLVE as Air Force Forward SurgeonGeneral Superintendent and Theater Public Health Manager, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Air Force Central Command. THIS IS A PRIVATE ACCOUNT. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.