Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Kay
Public Health Activity-San Diego Commander
LTC Andrew J. Kay was born in Long Beach, CA but raised in Vancouver, WA, and graduated from Washington State University in 2002 and the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. He applied for and was awarded a two-year Health Professions Scholarship Program award, commissioning in the Army Reserves in 2007. Upon graduation, he was commissioned onto Active Duty as a Veterinary Corps Officer (VCO) and reported to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He spent two years leading this dispersed branch before becoming Naval Base Guam's VTF Officer in Charge (OIC). During this assignment, the 25th Veterinary Corps Chief BG(R) John Poppe selected him as his Executive Assistant. From 2014-2017 he completed a clinical residency with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners at the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital on Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. He also received Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2015. After completing his clinical residency, he moved to Fort Carson, CO, to serve as the clinical instructor for the First-Year Graduate Veterinary Education program. He mentored and trained nine new VCOs in animal medicine, clinical practice management, and clinical leadership from 2017 to 2020. In 2020 he transitioned to the 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support (MDVSS) at Fort Campbell, KY, as the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services and simultaneously the OIC of the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Team, managing all clinical training and management for the entire detachment. He was selected to deploy to Kuwait for ten months to support the 248th MDVSS from July 2021 to April 2022. He is completing a dual master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Business Administration with an emphasis on Executive Clinical Leadership through the Army-Baylor Program at Fort Sam Houston, TX.
LTC Kay is certified as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee. He is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer Basic Leadership and the AMEDD Captain's Career Courses, the Veterinary Support to a Theater of Operations Course, the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician Course, phase one Defense Support of Civil Authorities, and the Common Core Command and General Staff College. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (with bronze star), the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (2).
LTC Kay has been married to his wife Andrea for 17 years, and together they have three children Carson, Mason, and Katelyn. While they are in between pets, they are in the market for one.