Director, Defense Health Support Activity

Col. Tawanna M. McGhee-Thondique holds a bachelor of science in dental hygiene from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a doctorate in dental sciences from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and certification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the Columbia University affiliated Harlem Hospital Center in New York City, New York. McGhee was commissioned in the U.S. Army in June 2001, making history as the first female African American Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in the United States Army Dental Corps. 

McGhee-Thondique has served our nation in a host of leadership positions, beginning as a staff Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Wurzburg Army Medical Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany. She later became Chief, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 67th Combat Support Hospital, Mosul, Iraq, and the 31st Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. McGhee-Thondique has served as staff Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Blanchfield Army Medical Center, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; staff Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and Deputy Director, Womack Community Medical Hospital Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Program; Assistant Professor, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences for Advanced General Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; and the Deputy Director, Health and Wellness Directorate, Office of the Army Surgeon General, prior to taking command of the 673rd Dental Company (Area Support), under the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, I Corps, and the 62nd Medical Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. 

McGhee-Thondique was the first female to command the only dual-hatted dental command in the Army: the 618th Dental Company (Area Support)/Dental Health Activity - Korea. She was the first female to serve as the Director, Dental Directorate, MEDCOM G-3/5/7, and the first female Principal Deputy to the Assistant Director for Healthcare Administration. 

McGhee’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, Meritorious Unit Award (1 OLC), and the Army Staff Identification Badge. She was the 2019 recipient of the Army Dental Corps Chief Award of Excellence and the 2019 AMSUS, Society of Federal Health Professionals, Dentist of the Year.