Nabil Tahan

Ever since I was a child, I knew that the United States military represented a tradition of sacrifice, discipline, and excellence. I encountered extraordinary pushback from my family members and peers for a cause that was otherwise admirable. Even so, I was certain that this was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to bring about change. Thanks to my parents and a handful of supportive mentors, I enlisted in the U.S Navy through a scholarship program. Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made.

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Currently, I am an active-duty healthcare information officer and scientist in the U.S. Navy. I recently completed my Ph.D. at the Naval Postgraduate School. My research delved into the effects of digital transformation on social network systems, reflecting my commitment to advancing healthcare capabilities in a dynamic technological era. 

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My experiences interacting with veterans and recruits at the Joint VA-DoD Federal Healthcare Center (FHCC) at Great Lakes are among some of the highlights of my public service career. Our team worked on sophisticated systems and cybersecurity issues at the FHCC-Great Lakes as a test site for an integrated medical record system that would provide service personnel, veterans, and their families with a comprehensive medical record from cradle-to-grave. Furthermore, during my downrange deployments with the NATO Multi-National Medical Unit in Afghanistan, I was able to use my technical expertise in medical systems as well as my command of multiple foreign languages to communicate with senior foreign members. This resulted in the opening of a unique cultural center on-base– a space for knowledge exchange that eased the tension and facilitated our multi-national mission. Whether at home or abroad, these two examples show the potential impact that members of the military can have in tackling important problems that our country faces.

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