Medical Genetics Center: Empowering Patients One Test at a Time

Jan. 6, 2026 | By Air Force Senior Airman Devyn Waits, 81st Training Wing |

Serving 9.5 million beneficiaries, the Medical Genetics Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, the only genetics laboratory in the War Department, supports military medical facilities around the globe with centralized testing and consultative service.

The lab empowers patients by giving them insight into their health, enabling them to take proactive measures that support not only their own wellness but also that of their families. 

"When we perform tests, we can give families a peace of mind," said Air Force Lt. Col. Joel Hughes, 359th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron clinical and laboratory geneticist. "For example, with a noninvasive pregnancy test, we screen the developing baby's health for any potential conditions, allowing us to answer questions an expecting family may have and give them, as well as their medical team, valuable time to prepare for the birth and any medical necessities." 

Hughes added that the lab can perform a wide variety of tests, including whole genome sequencing, cancer screening, carrier screening, karyotyping and noninvasive pregnancy testing, to help service members and their families make informed decisions during critical moments of their lives. 

Genetic testing services can also play a key role in supporting a service member's career, as they help determine conditions that could negatively impact performance, readiness or safety.

"One of the more common orders we get are for patients with cardiac issues," said Air Force Maj. Nicholas Singhmiller, 359th DTS clinical and laboratory geneticist. "If an airman in a physically demanding career sees a cardiologist, and that provider notices a potential heart issue, they refer them to us. Our role is to determine whether there's a genetic component to the problem, because that airman now cannot do any heavy lifting or strenuous activities due to possibly having a dangerous heart condition."

Singhmiller added that running tests helps rule out significant genetic causes, providing a twofold benefit. While medical issues may still be present, airmen can walk away with knowledge to help them choose the next steps in their careers. 

"Even if a diagnosis did result in a medical evaluation board, it gives the airman peace of mind because they've caught this condition before it causes harm," he said. 

The lab's ability to efficiently support its patients and provide answers to their health is also tied to its team of geneticists.

"One of the great things about our geneticists is that they come to the lab with experience in a previous field," said Air Force Lt. Col. Felecia Washington, 359th DTS deputy commander. "Dr. Hughes's background in internal medicine and Dr. Singhmiller's in pediatrics enhances their abilities as geneticists, because they can use that to uniquely analyze a family's medical history, connect it to the patient's health and effectively explain what's happening to them." 

While some tests are occasionally outsourced to other clinics, most tests can be ordered and completed in the lab, reducing coordination time and getting results to patients faster. 

The genetics lab's commitment to maximizing efficiency and enhancing medical understanding helps service members around the globe make informed decisions for their health and their families, fostering a healthier, more resilient community across DOW.

Navy Reservists Support Operation Deep Freeze 2026

Jan. 6, 2026 | By Sarah Cannon, Military Sealift Command Pacific |

Navy reservists from a Military Sealift Command Pacific expeditionary port unit are currently supporting cargo operations in Port Hueneme, California, in preparation for Operation Deep Freeze 2026, a resupply mission. 

The team is overseeing the loadout of supplies and equipment onto the Military Sealift Command chartered heavy lift ship Plantijngracht, which will deliver the cargo to the remote Antarctica outpost of McMurdo Station. 

Serving as liaisons between the ship's crew and Military Sealift Command, the reservists are overseeing the loadout of 302 pieces of cargo consisting of containers filled with construction materials, construction equipment, parts for the ongoing barge project at McMurdo Station, as well as dry goods and supplies needed for survival on Antarctica.  

"This mission gives us a broader experience of what goes on [for] the logistics side of the Navy; most specifically with MSC and the way they do business," explained Navy Cmdr. Allan Phillips, expeditionary port unit commanding officer. "For us as reservists, it takes us away from the warship aspect of the Navy and focuses us on working with civilians and MSC." 

In addition to cargo containers, materials for a 65-ton floating causeway system will also be loaded. The causeway will replace the ice pier at McMurdo Station. 

Previously, an ice pier made up of rebar and frozen seawater was used for cargo offloads. Because of the size and weight of the cargo this year, the ice pier is unusable. 

Once in Antarctica, the causeway will be assembled into sections on the ship's deck and placed into the water. The sections will be attached to one another to form the final pier. 
 
The four-person unit began operations Dec. 21, 2025, with a brief holiday break. As the "eyes on the pier," the team is providing on-site observations for the onload of cargo, including staying engaged with the ship's crew, the pier crews and serving as a reporting team to the Military Sealift Command operation team in San Diego. 
 
While most people would think working away from home during the holidays would be a hardship, members of the team welcomed the opportunity to be part of the unique operation made up of different military branches and government organizations working together, something outside their normal routine. 
 
"For the enlisted members of the team, we get to see how this type of mission plays into the big picture of an operation," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Marilyn Lazar, a hospital corpsman assigned to the expeditionary port unit. 
 
Plantijngracht is scheduled to depart Port Hueneme Jan. 8. Following a stop in Christchurch, New Zealand, where the ship will load additional cargo, it will travel to McMurdo Station, traveling approximately 8,040 nautical miles over nearly a month.  

Once in Antarctica, members of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1 will conduct the offload. Before departing McMurdo Station, the ship will be loaded with retrograde cargo for transportation off the continent. This includes trash and recyclable materials for disposal and equipment no longer required at the station.