Tactical Combat Casualty Care founder Dr. Frank K. Butler, Jr., will deliver the Commencement address for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, May 17, 2025.
News — Bethesda, MD – April 8, 2025 – Dr. Frank K. Butler, Jr., a distinguished leader in trauma care, former Navy SEAL and recent recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, will be the guest speaker at the upcoming Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) commencement ceremony May 17, 2025.
Butler has dedicated his career to advancing battlefield trauma care and improving medical responses in both military and civilian settings. His journey began as a Navy SEAL, where he gained firsthand experience with the challenges faced in combat environments. In 1996, he pioneered the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) program which has since become the standard for trauma care across the U.S. military and has influenced practices worldwide. During his tenure as Chair of the Department of Defense’s Committee on TCCC, Butler led a multidisciplinary team that significantly increased survival rates during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. His innovations, including the implementation of tourniquets and hemostatic dressings, have transformed both military operations and civilian emergency medical responses.
Butler's contributions extend beyond the battlefield. As a member of the White House advisory team on civilian IED injuries and a founding member of the Hartford Consensus Working Group, he played an instrumental role in launching the national “STOP THE BLEED®” campaign, which empowers bystanders to act in emergencies involving severe bleeding. His numerous accolades highlight his commitment to excellence in trauma care, including the American College of Surgeons Distinguished Military Lifetime Achievement Award and the Military Health System Battlefield Medicine Innovation Award, among others. The Presidential Citizens Medal, one of the highest honors a civilian can receive, recognizes Butler’s extraordinary contributions to battlefield trauma care and his enduring impact on both military and civilian medicine.
The USU commencement ceremony is held annually on Armed Forces Day at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. This event incorporates the traditions and pomp of both military service and academia. More than 300 students will be conferred degrees, marking the culmination of years of education, training, leadership, and research for military and civilian members of the graduating class.
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​The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), established by Congress in 1972, serves as the nation's federal health sciences university and the academic core of the Military Health System. USU educates and trains health professionals, scientists, and leaders dedicated to the care of those in harm's way in the U.S. military and public health systems. Its comprehensive curriculum integrates basic science, innovative research, leadership training, and clinical practice in diverse environments to prepare students for the complex challenges of healthcare on the frontlines and in austere environments.
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