Chad Foster

Colonel (Ret.) Chad D. Foster is the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) within the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC and the Flight Attending Veterinarian for the International Space Station. He began his tenure in both capacities in December 2021.

Dr. Foster’s Army career started at the Veterinary Treatment Facility at Edwards AFB, CA in 2001.  In 2003, he was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he deployed twice to Iraq as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force.  In 2005, he reported to the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, MD where he completed a four-year residency in laboratory animal medicine.  He went on to serve as the Attending Veterinarian, US Army Medical Department Center and School (2009);  Director, Research Support Division at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (2012); Command Veterinarian, Special Operations Command (2015); Director, Laboratory Animal Resources and Military Deputy to the VP (Research) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (2017); and Deputy Chief, Veterinary Services for the Defense Health Agency (2020).  He retired from active duty in January 2022.

Dr. Foster holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M University and is a certified American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) Diplomate.  He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife, Dr. Anna Bagwell Foster (Acting Director, Animal Welfare Operations, USDA) and their four children.