‘People first, compassion, servant leadership, and genuine respect for all’ – Retired sergeant major reflects on career, value of Veterans in continued service

The U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is an integral component of the Department of Defense’s medical readiness enterprise. A key to USAMMDA’s success as the DoD’s premier developer of modernized medical devices, treatments, and equipment is the knowledge and experience brought to the table by its many Veterans, who work alongside both active-duty Soldiers and non-Veteran civilians to manage the Army’s medical modernization efforts to equip U.S. joint force medical providers for tomorrow’s wars.

For retired command sergeant major Darryl Warren, who has been with USAMMDA for the past three years after finishing his 31-year Army career, the opportunity to continue his service as a DoD civilian is indicative of the team spirit and ethos of the entire USAMMDA team.

“I think it’s important for Veterans to continue to serve in any capacity when possible because I feel they offer a wealth of knowledge that can only be gained from years of service,” said Warren, a Houston native who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1987. “The fundamentals of service such as discipline, commitment, duty, and loyalty are attributes that add value to any organization.”

Today, Warren, a Veteran of the Gulf War and Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, serves as an operations program analyst, ensuring USAMMDA’s diverse team is trained and ready for any and all medical development missions it receives. Because of the varied roles of USAMMDA’s staff – with active-duty Soldiers working alongside both DoD civilians and contractors – the expertise Veterans bring to the table helps the entire USAMMDA team function more effectively, given their practical knowledge gained through real-world experience, said Warren.

His years as a senior enlisted leader, mentor to Soldiers, and technical expert with various commands across the world have helped shape Warren’s approach to USAMMDA’s mission.

“I think having Veterans on staff is important because of the unique composition of USAMMDA’s staff,” said Warren. “Veterans can share their experiences on how the Army operates, communicates, and functions at different levels. I try to apply lessons learned from my military service and I try to meet people where they are in terms of their career, life, and professional development. And I always try to be approachable and a good listener.”

Warren enlisted for the same reasons young people today join the military: college tuition, travel, technical and trade skills. After 31 years in uniform, with duty stations across the United States and the world and tours as operating room specialist, recruiter, platoon sergeant, operations chief, deployment planner, chief medical noncommissioned officer, and command sergeant major, Warren knows the value of both teamwork and mission focus. Each individual is responsible for their assigned missions and the mission of the entire team.

Warren’s continued service is testament to the Army’s high standards of excellence, and the value of serving for a greater purpose.

“Although I no longer wear the uniform, I’m still part of a ‘team of teams,’” said Warren. “I realize that everyone’s mission overlaps or is intertwined with the overall mission here at USAMMDA. I feel everyone’s job is important and everyone adds value to the organization, so I try to assist in any capacity where help is needed.”