Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, the first Black woman to lead the Defense Health Agency (DHA), has unexpectedly retired.
Her resignation, which took effect on Feb. 28, follows a controversial wave of top military dismissals under the Trump administration’s Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
Crosland was responsible for managing healthcare services for nearly 10 million U.S. military personnel, retirees, and their families.
She had been a trailblazer in military medicine. Her departure has already led to a replacement, according to Stephen Ferrara, the acting assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
“I want to thank Crosland for her dedication to the nation, to the military health system, and to Army medicine for the past 32 years,” Ferrara stated publicly. “I am confident the DHA will continue to improve health care in support of our beneficiaries and rise to meet complex security challenges worldwide.”
Crosland’s resignation comes amid a period of turbulence within the Pentagon. A few weeks ago, Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissed several high-ranking military officials without explanation, including Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, the most senior military officer in the United States. Brown, a vocal supporter of diversity initiatives in the military, had previously drawn criticism from Hegseth.
Other abrupt terminations included Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations, and Air Force Gen. James Slife, the Vice Chief of Staff for the Air Force. In addition, Hegseth has been reportedly seeking nominations for key legal positions within the Pentagon, including the Judge Advocate General (JAG) roles for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, though no specific reasons have been cited for the recent firings.
Crosland’s legacy includes her extensive contributions to military healthcare and her historic role as the first Black woman to lead the DHA.
While her sudden departure raises questions about the broader shake-up within the Department of Defense, her impact on the military health system remains undeniable.
