The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S Public Health Service has some 90 local branches around the country and two international branches. These branches are geographically defined and act as local sources of information, education, training, community service, support, networking and social activity for our members.

Interested in establishing a new local branch?  Use the Branch Handbook (pdf, 257KB) as a guide.

-- Appendix A - Branch By-Law Form (pdf, 698 KB)
-- Appendix B - Branch Officer Update Form (pdf, 766 KB)
-- Appendix C - Media Kit Expanded Below

1. Media Kit Action Overview (pdf, 33.7 KB)
2. Media Outreach Primer (45.6 KB)
3. Core Message (35.5 KB)
4. USPHS Fact Sheet (24.9 KB)
5. Haiti - Sample Press Release (28.7 KB)
6. Haiti - Sample Letter to the Editor (11.7 KB)
7. COF Conference - Sample Press Release (28.8 KB)
8. COF Conference - Sample Letter to the Editor (10.0 KB)
   

Branch Locations and Contacts

Inactive Reserve Branch

In response to a request from our Inactive Reserve members COA has established a new “virtual” branch for our Inactive Reserve Officers. This branch will be a nationwide electronically connected branch catering specifically to the needs, concerns, interests and issues of PHS Inactive Reserve Officers.

INACTIVE RESERVE BRANCH - No Local Dues
President: CDR Ira L. Salom
E-mail: ira.salom@mssm.edu

International Branches

Asia

No Local Dues
President: CDR Henry C. Baggett, II
E-mail: hbaggett@cdc.gov

Europe

No Local Dues
President: CAPT Reuben M. Granich
E-mail: granichr@who.int

USA Branches

Alabama  

Alaska  

ARCTIC - $5.00
Fairbanks, AK
President: LCDR Faith M. Walsh
E-mail: mccallwalsh99@netscape.net

AURORA BOREALIS - $10.00
Anchorage, AK
President: LCDR Jane A. Bleuel
E-mail: jableuel@southcentralfoundation.com

KILLER WHALE - $10.00
Sitka, AK
President: CAPT Traci L. Gale
E-mail: traci.gale@searhc.org

KODIAK - $10.00
Kodiak, AK
President: CDR Preston L. Van Curen
E-mail: vanclanpw@alaska.com 

MISTY FJORDS - No Local Dues
Ketchikan, AK
President: LCDR Joseph T. Frost
E-mail: jfrost@kictribe.org

REALM OF THE ARCTIC - No Local Dues
President: LT Velia I. Turknett
E-mail: velia.turknett@maniilaq.org

CANYON DE CHELLY - $5.00
Chinle, AZ
President: CDR Maya A. Thompson
E-mail: maya.thompson@ihs.gov

GRAND CANYON - $10.00
Tuba City, AZ
President: LT Esteban D. Acosta
E-mail: esteban.acosta@tchealth.org

HOPI - $5.00
Polacca, AZ
President: CDR Keith J. Adcock
E-mail: keith.adcock@ihs.gov

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER - No Local Dues
Winslow, AZ
President: CDR Joan M. McFarland
E-mail: joan.mcfarland@wihcc.org

PHOENIX - $10.00
Phoenix, AZ
President: LCDR Vernita M. Jones
E-mail: vernita.jones@ihs.gov

SAGUARO - No Local Dues
Globe, AZ
President: CDR Beverly K. Wilcox
E-mail: beverly.wilcox@ihs.gov

TSE' HOOT SOI' - No Local Dues

Fort Defiance, AZ

President: LT Jessica Nelson

E-mail: jessica.nelson@ihs.gov

TUCSON - $5.00
Tucson, AZ
President: CDR Cedric B. Guyton
E-mail: cedric.guyton@ihs.gov

Website: www.geocities.com/tucsoncoa

WESTERN ARIZONA - $10.00
Parker, AZ
President: LCDR Jeff A. Maxon
E-mail: jeff.maxon@ihs.gov

WHITE MOUNTAIN - $10.00
White River, AZ
President: CDR Dwight Humphreys
E-mail: dwight.humphreys@ihs.gov

PINAL COUNTY - For Dues Information Contact LCDR Latham
President: LCDR Lea L. Latham
E-mail: lea.latham@phs.dhs.gov

Arkansas

At Sea

NEPTUNE - No Local Dues
President: LCDR Irwin W. Fish
E-mail: irwin.fish@noaa.gov

California

GOLDEN GATE - $10.00
Alameda, CA
President: CDR LaVerne Puckett
E-mail: laverne.puckett@fda.hhs.gov

GREATER LA - $5.00
La Palma, CA
President: CDR Wendy S. Antonowsky
E-Mail: wendy.antonowsky@fda.hhs.gov

IMPERIAL VALLEY - $5.00
El Centro, CA
President: CAPT Marian H. Moe
E-mail: marian.moe@dhs.gov

SIERRA - $3.00
Sacramento, CA
President: CAPT Paul T. Young
E-mail: paul.young@ihs.gov

SOCAL - $20.00
San Diego, CA
President: LCDR Jason A. Ortiz
E-mail: jason.ortiz@dhs.gov

Website: http://members.cox.net/socal_coa/index.htm

Colorado

PIKES PEAK - $5.00
Florence, CO
President: LCDR Bradley R. Cink
E-mail: bcink@bop.gov

ROCKY MOUNTAIN (CO, UT) - $5.00
Littleton, CO
President: CDR Bernadette O. Gonzalez
E-mail: gonzalez.bernadette@epa.gov

Connecticut

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

Delaware

District of Columbia

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - $10.00
Rockville, MD
President: CDR Vicky Borders-Hamphill
E-mail: vicky.borders-hamphill@fda.hhs.gov

Website: dccoa.org

Florida

CENTRAL FLORIDA - $5.00
Maitland, FL
President: CDR Janet E. McDowell-Travis
E-mail: dr.j.travis@worldnet.att.net

Georgia

ATLANTA - $10.00
Atlanta, GA
President: LT Jasen M. Kunz
E-mail: izk0@cdc.gov

Website: www.atlantacoa.com

COLUMBUS - $15.00

President: CDR Sye D. Bennefield

E-mail: sye.bennefield@dhs.gov

Hawaii

ALOHA - No Local Dues

President: CDR Lyndall S. Blackmon
E-mail: sxblackmon@bop.gov

Idaho

INLAND EMPIRE (ID, WA) - $10.00
Kamiah, ID
President: LCDR Michael P. Kelly
E-mail: mpkelly66@msn.com

NORTH CENTRAL (ID, IN, MN, WI) - $5.00
Lewiston, MN
President: LCDR Chad A. Garrett
E-mail: cagarrett@bop.gov
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/northcentralcoa/home

Illinois

CHICAGO - $5.00
Chicago, IL
President: LCDR Anne K. Rogers
E-mail: anne.rogers2@cms.hhs.gov

Indiana

INDIANA - $5.00
Terre Haute, IN
President: CAPT R. Douglas Shepherd, II
Phone: rshepherd@bop.gov

NORTH CENTRAL (ID, IN, MN, WI) - $5.00
Lewiston, MN
President: LCDR Chad A. Garrett
E-mail: cagarrett@bop.gov
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/northcentralcoa/home

Iowa

Kansas

HEART OF AMERICA (KS, MO) - $10.00
Kansas City, MO
President: LCDR Shannon B. Tuckwin
E-mail: shannon.tuckwin@ihs.gov

Kentucky

BLUE GRASS - $5.00
Lexington, KY
President: CAPT Jessie Whitehurst-Lief
E-mail: jwlief@bop.gov

Louisiana

CARVILLE - $5.00
Baton Rouge, LA
President: CDR John H. Figarola
E-mail: jfigarola@hrsa.gov

OAKDALE - No Local Dues

President:

E-mail:

Maine

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

Maryland

BALTIMORE - $10.00
Baltimore, MD
President: LCDR Brian D. Elza
E-mail: brian.elza@cms.hhs.gov

FT DETRICK - $5.00
Rockville, MD
President: LCDR Evelyn B. Blaemire
E-mail: evelyn.blaemire@cms.hhs.gov

Website: www.comilstd.org/fdcoa

MONTGOMERY COUNTY - $12.00
President: LCDR Martha A. Wanca
E-mail: martha.wanca@hhs.gov

Massachusetts

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

Michigan

BEMIDJI (MI, MN, WI) - $5.00
Baraboo, WI
President: LCDR Brenda L. Hoverson
E-mail: brenda.hoverson@ihs.gov

Website: http://www.bemidjicoa.com

TRI-COUNTY - $10.00

President: LT Skip A. Payne

E-mail: skip.payne@fda.hhs.gov

Minnesota

BEMIDJI (MI, MN, WI) - $5.00
Baraboo, WI
President: LCDR Brenda L. Hoverson
E-mail: brenda.hoverson@ihs.gov

Website: http://www.bemidjicoa.com

NORTH CENTRAL (ID, IN, MN, WI) - $5.00
Lewiston, MN
President: LCDR Chad A. Garrett
E-mail: cagarrett@bop.gov
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/northcentralcoa/home

Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI - $10.00
President: LT Joseph Walker
E-mail: joseph.h.walker@usdoj.gov

Missouri

HEART OF AMERICA (KS, MO) - $10.00
Kansas City, MO
President: CDR Donna K. Strong
E-mail: dkstrong@embarqmail.com

OZARKS - $10.00
Springfield, MO
President:  LCDR Joseph A. Christ
E-mail: joseph.christ@ihs.gov

Montana

BIG SKY (MT, WY) - $10.00
Billings, MT
President: LT Aaron F. Long
E-mail: aaron.long@ihs.gov

MONTANA - No Local Dues
Hamilton, MT
President: CAPT Michael J. Parnell
E-mail: mparnell@nih.gov

Nebraska

ABERDEEN (NE, ND, SD) - $10.00
Aberdeen, SD
President: CDR Bernard N. Long
E-mail: bernard.long@ihs.gov

Nevada

LAS VEGAS - $10.00

Las Vegas, NV

President: CDR William N. Albrecht

E-mail: albrecht.william@epa.gov

NORTHERN NEVADA - $10.00
Nixon, NV
President: CAPT Sharon L. Shane
E-mail: sharon.shane@ihs.gov

New Hampshire

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

New Jersey

SOUTH JERSEY SEASHORE - $4.00
Cape May, NJ
President: CDR Craig S. Kluger
E-mail: craig.s.kluger@uscg.mil

New Mexico

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE - $1.00
Crown Point, NM
President: LCDR Gretchen L. Tsosie
E-mail: gretchen.tsosie@ihs.gov

FOUR CORNERS - $10.00
Farmington, NM
President: CDR Grace E. McAtasney
E-mail: grace.mcatasney@ihs.gov

NAVAJO - $2.00
Gallup, NM
President: LCDR Jovito G. Sabal
E-mail: jovito.sabal@ihs.gov

RIO GRANDE - $10.00
Albuquerque, NM
President: CDR Timothy G. Gruber
E-mail: timothy.gruber@ihs.gov

New York

NEW YORK - $10.00
Jamaica, NY
President: LCDR Peter R. Lenahan
E-Mail: peter.lenahan@fda.hhs.gov

WESTERN NEW YORK - $10.00

President: CDR (Sel) Sean M. McMahan

E-mail: Sean.mcmahan@dhs.gov

North Carolina

CHEROKEE - $5.00
Bryson City, NC
President: CDR Julie M. VanLeuven
E-mail: julievanleuven@cherokeehospital.org

NORTH CAROLINA - $15.00
Durham, NC
President: LCDR Alnissa T. Carter
E-mail: axcarter@bop.gov

North Dakota

ABERDEEN (NE, ND, SD) - $10.00
Aberdeen, SD
President: CDR Bernard N. Long
E-mail: bernard.long@ihs.gov

Ohio

CINCINNATI - $10.00
Cincinnati, OH
President: CDR Lauralynn McKernan
E-mail: lt4@cdc.gov

Website: coa.spsp.net

ELKTON - $10.00

President: LCDR Raymond D. Carter

E-mail: r4carter@bop.gov

Oklahoma

GREEN COUNTRY - $5.00
Tahlequah, OK
President: LCDR Dana R. Hayworth
E-mail: dana-hayworth@cherokee.org

KIAMICHI - $5.00
Talihina, OK
President: LT Matthew D. Olson
E-mail: mdolson@cnhsa.com

NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA - $5.00
Claremore, OK
President: CDR John S. Melton

E-mail: john.melton@ihs.gov

NORTHERN OKLAHOMA - $1.00
Pawhuska, OK
President: LCDR Joseph L. Jones
E-mail: joseph.jones@ihs.gov

NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA - $5.00
President: CDR Flauryse M. Baguidy
E-mail: flauryse.baguidy@ihs.gov

OKLAHOMA - $2.00
Oklahoma City, OK
President: CAPT Robin M. Holden
E-mail: robin.holden@ihs.gov

SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA - $5.00
Wewoka, OK
President: CAPT Susan T. Dethman
E-mail: susan.dethman@mail.ihs.gov

SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA - $5.00
Lawton, OK
President: LT Alejandro D. Rivera, Jr.
E-mail: alejandro.rivera@ihs.gov              

Oregon

CENTRAL OREGON - No Local Dues
Warm Springs, OR
President: CDR James C. Gemelas
E-mail: james.gemelas@ihs.gov

PORTLAND - $2.00
Portland, OR
President: CDR Linda A. Tiokasin-Orr
E-mail: linda.tiokasin-orr@ihs.gov

Pennsylvania

THOMAS JEFFERSON - $5.00
Philadelphia, PA
President: CDR Kristina J. Donohue
E-mail: kristina.donohue@fda.hhs.gov

Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICO - No Local Dues
San Juan, PR
President: LCDR D. Fermin Arguello
E-mail: darguello@cdc.gov

Rhode Island

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

South Carolina

CATAWBA - $5.00
President: CDR James L. Webb, Jr.
E-mail: james.webb@ihs.gov

South Dakota

ABERDEEN (NE, ND, SD) - $10.00
Aberdeen, SD
President: CDR Bernard N. Long
E-mail: bernard.long@ihs.gov

Tennessee

MIDDLE TENNESSEE - $3.00
Murfreesboro, TN
President: CDR Darrall F. Tillock
E-mail: darrall.tillock@ihs.gov

Texas

CENTRAL TEXAS - $10.00

President: CDR Bruce K. Cox

E-mail: bruce.cox@dhs.gov

GREATER TEXAS (Formerly Dallas) - $10.00
Dallas, TX
President: LCDR Malini Krishnan
E-mail: malini.krishnan@cms.hhs.gov

FORT WORTH - $10.00
Fort Worth, TX
President: CAPT Brenda S. Burges
E-mail: bburges@bop.gov

SOUTH TEXAS - $5.00

LCDR Christopher D. Cline

E-mail: Chris.Cline@dhs.gov

Utah

ROCKY MOUNTAIN (CO, UT) - $5.00
Littleton, CO
President: CDR Bernadette O. Gonzalez
E-mail: gonzalez.bernadette@epa.gov

UNITAH BASIN - $10.00
Fort Duchesne
President: CAPT Michael R. Allen
E-mail: mrallen1@ubtanet.com

Vermont

NEW ENGLAND (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) - $10.00
Stoneham, MA
President: LCDR Michelle M. Noe
E-mail: michelle.noe@fda.hhs.gov

Website: http://www.necoa.us/

Virginia

TIDEWATER - $10.00
Portsmouth, VA
President: LCDR Bryan Davidson
E-mail: bryan.davidson@langley.af.mil

Washington

EVERGREEN - $10.00
Seattle, WA
President: RADM Patrick W. O’Carroll
E-mail: patrick.ocarroll@hhs.gov

Website: www.coa-evergreen.org

INLAND EMPIRE (ID, WA) - $10.00
Kamiah, ID
President: LCDR Michael P. Kelly
E-mail: mpkelly66@msn.com

MOUNT ADAMS - $10.00
President: LCDR Shawn D. Blackshear

E-mail: shawn.blackshear@ihs.gov

RAINIER - $10.00

President: LCDR Ben M. Brahim

E-mail: ben.brahim@dhs.gov

West Virginia

WEST VIRGINIA - $4.00
Morgantown, WV
President: LCDR Rachel L. Bailey
E-mail: rlbailey@cdc.gov

Wisconsin

BEMIDJI (MI, MN, WI) - $5.00
Baraboo, WI
President: LCDR Brenda L. Hoverson
E-mail: brenda.hoverson@ihs.gov

Website: http://www.bemidjicoa.com

NORTH CENTRAL (ID, IN, MN, WI) - $5.00
Lewiston, MN
President: LCDR Chad A. Garrett
E-mail: cagarrett@bop.gov
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/northcentralcoa/home

Wyoming

BIG SKY (MT, WY) - $5.00
Billings, MT
President: LT Aaron F. Long
E-mail: aaron.long@ihs.gov