JBLM DENTAC Leadership

Colonel Alfred C. Anderson

Commander, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Dental Activity

Colonel Alfred “Andy” Anderson assumed command of JBLM’s DENTAC on Aug. 16, 2021. His previous assignment was as the DENTAC commander at Fort Eustis, Va. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Colonel Anderson is a graduate of the University of Utah. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry in Cleveland, Ohio, with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree.
 
Colonel Anderson served 10 years in artillery with the Utah and Ohio National Guard. Upon completion of dental school, he entered active duty and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., where he completed a one-year advanced education in general dentistry residency. After graduation, he was assigned to 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and deployed to the Middle East three times. In 2004, he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., as an endodontic resident. After graduation he was assigned as the endodontics mentor in the two-year advanced education in general dentistry program at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he also participated in a medical readiness training exercise in the Philippines. He returned to Fort Bragg as the assistant program director for the endodontic residency program from 2009-2013. His next assignment was as the deputy director for patient care integration in the G-3/5/7 at the Office of the Surgeon General. From 2015-2017 he served as the DENTAC commander in Vicenza, Italy.
 
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (1OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the NCO Professional Development Ribbon. He has earned the Combat Medical Badge, Expert Field Medic Badge, Aviation Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and has foreign jump wings from Jordan and Singapore. He is a recipient of the Surgeon General’s ‘A’ proficiency designator, the Order of Military Medical Merit and a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics.
 
Colonel Anderson’s military education includes the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combat Casualty Care Course, and Command and General Staff College. He is currently enrolled in distance learning at the Army War College.

First Sergeant Cristina Simkins

Senior Enlisted Advisor, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Dental Activity

First Sgt. Cristina Simkins assumed responsibility as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Joint Base Lewis McCord Dental Health Activity on Nov. 13, 2023. She is originally from Arizona. She enlisted in the United States Army in October 2002 and attended Basic Training/Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She had a break in service after her first enlistment and served in the Army Reserve until August 2007, when she came back onto active duty as a Dental Specialist. First Sgt. Simkins’ previous assignment was as a Senior Operations NCO (CUOPS/FUOPS) at Medical Readiness Command, East G-3/5/7, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

First Sgt. Simkins’ assignments include Administrative Specialist, 501st Support Group, 19th Theater Support Command, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea; Administrative Finance Specialist, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington; Dental Specialist, 7229th MSU, Fort Lewis, Washington; Dental Specialist, 202nd BSB, 4BDE, 2ID; Dental Specialist, DENTAC Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, NCOIC/Training/Ops NCO, DENTAC Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Drill Sergeant, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Training/Operations NCO/ Senior Enlisted Leader DENTAC Fort Eustis, Virginia; and Senior Operations NCO (CUOPS/FUOPS), Medical Readiness Command, East, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She has deployed to FOB Warhorse, Iraq, and supported Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines.

First Sgt. Simkins’ military and civilian education include Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course (commandant’s list), Master Leader Course (commandant’s list), Company Commander/First Sergeant Pre-Command Course, Force Management Orientation Course, 70H - Health Service Plans/Operations/Intelligence Security/Training Course, Drill Sergeant Academy, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Master Resilience Training & MRT Medical Course, Battle Staff, SHARP Foundation Course, Digital Training Management System Course, Dental Management Development Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Unit Prevention Leader Course, Field Management of Chemical/Biological Casualty Course, Field Sanitation Team Certification Course, Combatives Level 1 Course, and Combat Lifesaver Course. First Sgt. Simkins earned her Associate of Arts General Studies degree from Hawaii Pacific University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management from Park University.

First Sgt. Simkins’ military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 Silver OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 Silver OLC), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Sergeant Audie Murphy Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency, and Norwegian Foot March Badge.