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Colonel Chad Koenig

Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

Colonel Chad Koenig was born and raised in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Upon completion of Bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University and ROTC through the University of Wisconsin LaCross, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. Colonel Chad Koenig was born and raised in Plymouth, Wisconsin.  

He assumed the duties as Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research on 31 August 2021. His previous assignments include Deputy Commander for Patient Services, Brooke Army Medical Center; Commander US Army Medical Department Activity and Director of Health Services for Fort Jackson; Chief of the Surgeon General’s Physical Performance Service Line; Chief Force Health Protection, Health Readiness Center of Excellence; Troop Commander, Womack Army Medical Center; and Detachment Commander, US Army Research Institute of Environment Medicine.

Colonel Koenig also served as the Army’s Chief Dietitian/Assistant Chief Army Medical Specialist Corps and deployed to Afghanistan in support of various research related missions for U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, DoD Combat Feeding and the Institute of Medicine.

In addition to his bachelors, Koenig’s education includes a dietetic internship from Viterbo University. He earned a Masters in Nutrition and Health Sciences with a concentration in Sports Nutrition from Georgia State University and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a Certified Exercise Physiologist from the American College of Sports Medicine, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Colonel Koenig’s military training includes the Combat Casualties and Humanitarian Missions Professional Postgraduate Course, Capability and Combat Development Course, Executive Skills Course, Joint Senior Medical Leaders Course, Medical Strategic Leadership Program (MSLP), Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, the Military Health System Leaders CAPSTONE Course and Senior Service College. 

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), National Defense Service Medal with star device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, and the 25th Infantry Division Combat Patch, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.  He has been awarded the Medical Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (8Z) designator, Capability Developer (7Y) designator and the Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator. Additionally, he has been inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit.