The executive officer of the U.S. Navy's premier training facility for operational medicine and aviation survival training was installed as president of the largest aerospace medicine organization during a ceremony in Orlando, Fla., May 14.

Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) Executive Officer Capt. Kris Belland, MC, took up the position of president of the office of Aerospace Medicine Association (AsMA) during a ceremony and said the privilege of holding the position is an honor he sees as a testament to the training, leadership and integrity he received during the 25 plus years of his Navy career.

"AsMA is the front runner in aerospace medicine knowledge and theory, and it is an honor to be selected president of this organization from among the best and brightest minds in their respected fields," Belland said. "This organization represents the leadership in aerospace medicine, and I'm honored to be a part of keeping our pilots - military and civilian alike - safe."

Belland is one of the very few qualified as both a flight surgeon and Navy pilot. He earned his naval aviator wings in 1997 and was qualified in the F/A-18 Hornet. He then served as a dually designated senior flight surgeon for Naval Strike and Warfare Center. He has over 2,000 hours of flight time as a pilot and flight surgeon in various aircrafts, including the F/A-18, F-14, EA-6B, and S-3. He has 112 arrested landings and 25 combat missions over Iraq.

According to the AsMA website, the organization is designed for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. It is a place created for a variety of disciplines to unite and share their insights to globally benefit all persons involved in air and space travel.

The Association has provided its expertise to a multitude of federal and international agencies on a broad range of issues, including aviation and space medical standards, the aging pilot and the physiological stresses of flight. AsMA's membership includes aerospace medicine specialists, flight nurses, physiologists, psychologists, human factors specialists, physician assistants and researchers.

Aerospace medicine concerns the determination and maintenance of the health, safety and performance of persons involved in air and space travel. As a broad field of endeavor, aerospace medicine offers challenges and opportunities for physicians, nurses, physiologists, bioenvironmental engineers, industrial hygienists, environmental health practitioners, human factors specialists, psychologists and other professionals.

Those in the field are dedicated to enhancing health, promoting safety, and improving performance of individuals who work or travel in unusual environments.

Belland is a United States Naval Academy graduate and is board certified in Family Medicine and Aerospace Medicine. He has served in multiple operational aviation assignments including the aircraft carriers USS Midway (CV-41), USS Independence (CV-62), and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). He is a Fellow and former vice president of AsMA. He has served on various AsMA committees and has awards committee.

For more news from Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.