Colonel (Ret.) Priscilla H. Hamilton '78 is retired from the U.S. Army after over 33 years of active service. Hamilton’s tenure included numerous command, staff, and operational assignments. She is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, serving with the 257th Medical Detachment and the 5th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Her largest command was the U.S. Army Dental Command, responsible for all Army oral health care and dental clinics around the world. DENCOM operated 147 dental clinics globally and employed more than 5,000 dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants. Her final assignment was the chief of graduate dental education and dean of the Army Postgraduate Dental School.
Hamilton’s numerous U.S. Army awards include: the Legion of Merit (five awards), the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal (six awards). She holds the Surgeon General’s “A” Designator, is a Distinguished Member of the Army Medical Department Regiment, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Hamilton attained Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. She is a Fellow in the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is board certified by the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry and the American Board of General Dentistry.
She attended Penn State Behrend for two years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Science with high distinction from University Park in 1978. She holds a DMD and is a Distinguished Alumna from the University of Pittsburgh, a master’s in healthcare administration from Baylor University, and a master’s in strategic studies from The U.S. Army War College.
Hamilton, a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association, lives in Erie, Pennsylvania, devoting her time to several volunteer endeavors.