Rear Adm. (Ret.) Sylvia Trent-Adams | Article | The United States Army

Rear Adm. (Ret.) Sylvia Trent-Adams

By AMY TURNEROctober 5, 2022

2022 Hall of Fame Inductee

Hampton University (1987)

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Rear Adm. (Ret.) Sylvia Trent-Adams was born on June 15, 1965, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

She attended Hampton University where she completed both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Army ROTC program. She graduated and commissioned in 1987.

Trent-Adams served five years as a Nurse at Walter Reed Medical Center medical and surgical units and preventive medicine. She also served as a research nurse at the University of Maryland, oncology unit. She completed two internships in the US Senate where she focused on the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities and scope of practice for nurses and psychologists. During her career, Trent-Adams has performed clinical practice that includes trauma, oncology, community health, and infectious disease.

She worked tirelessly as the Deputy Associate Administrator for HIV/AIDS Bureau, she provided great leadership in response to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, and she also supported the efforts of the Flint Michigan water crisis.

When the Nation needed her, she was there to take the reins of the US Surgeon General, from 17 April 2017 to September 5. 2017, at the direction of the President. She is only the second non physician to serve as the surgeon general. In addition to that milestone she has also served as the principle deputy assistant secretary for health, as well as having served as the Chief Nurse Officer for the Public Health Service.

Trent-Adams retired on October 1, 2020, after 33.5 years of service in the Army.

Her military awards and accolades include the OIC Badge, Office of the Secretary Of Health and Human Services Badge, Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal, Surgeon Generals Medallion, Surgeon Generals Exemplary Service Medal with one Gold Star Award, Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal, Public Health Service Commendation Medal, ARCOM, Public Health Service Achievement Medal, Aam, USUHS Distinguished Service Medal, US Public Health Service Presidential Unit Citation, Public Health Service Outstanding Unit Citation, Public Health Service Unit Commendation with three Silver Service Stars, Florence Nightingale Medal, Global Health Campaign Medal, Public Health Service Ebola Campaign Medal, Public Health Service Special Assignment Service Award with Service Star, Public Health Service Foreign Duty Service Award, Public Health Service Crisis Response Service Award, Public Health Service Global Response Service Award, Public Health Service Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award, National Defense Service Medal, Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon, Commissioned Corps Training Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.

Trent-Adam’s civilian honors and awards include the International Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal, American Nursing Credentialing Centers HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein Award, American Academy Of Nursing Civitas Award and the American Association of the Colleges of Nursing’s Lois Capps Luminary Policy Award.

About the Army ROTC Hall of Fame

The ROTC Hall of Fame was established in 2016 as part of the ROTC Centennial celebration. The first class (2016) inducted 326 former ROTC Cadets who had distinguished themselves in their military or civilian career.

The Hall of Fame honors graduates of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits. It provides a prestigious and tangible means of recognizing and honoring Army ROTC Alumni who have made lasting, significant contributions to the Nation, the Army and the history and traditions of the Army ROTC Program.

Read more about the 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees.