On 4 October 2024, the Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPM CBRN Medical), a component of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), held a promotion ceremony for Lieutenant Colonel Owen L. Roberts II. The ceremony was held at the Fort Detrick Auditorium at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where Lt. Col. Roberts was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.
Roberts has served in the U.S. Army’s military health system, medical logistics, and acquisition communities for more than 21 years. Notably, in 2020, he began serving on the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force, formerly known as “Operation Warp Speed.” As a result of his team’s efforts, nearly 600 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the U.S., and more than 200 million doses were donated around the globe.
Roberts is the highest-ranking active-duty service member from the Micronesia region, which includes the Republic of Palau, which celebrated its 30th year of independence as a presidential republic in free association with the United States of America, just days before the ceremony.
To commemorate Roberts’ achievement, President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., Republic of Palau, attended and provided remarks at the ceremony.
“To be in Palau at the receiving end of the COVID-19 vaccine was a moment of hope,” said President Whipps. “It highlighted just how much Colonel Roberts’ work, and that of the United States, means to the rest of the world.”
Above: Joint Program Executive Officer for CBRN Defense Mr. Darryl Colvin presents President Surangel Whipps, Jr., Republic of Palau, with a Commander’s Coin.
The Joint Program Executive Officer for CBRN Defense, Mr. Darryl Colvin, presented President Whipps with a Commander’s Coin, depicting the three warfighter survivability mission areas emphasized within the JPEO-CBRND: Understanding, Protecting, and Mitigating against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Ms. Nicole Kilgore, the Deputy JPEO, provided heartfelt remarks and emphasized Roberts’ potential, noting that throughout Operation Warp Speed, “Colonel Roberts proved he was up to the challenge.”
Roberts thanked his family for their support over the course of his life and career, including his wife, four children, parents, and extended family. Roberts noted that in his journey to leading a successful life and being “a special person,” he never forgot the importance of being told that he had the potential to be one. Ultimately, his motivation is the ability to make a difference each day.
“When given responsibility, you must take care of people,” Roberts said.