Springer retires from the military
Col. Barbara Springer, from Fort Fairfield, celebrated her retirement from the U.S. Army after 24 years and eight months of service. Her mother Darlene Higgins and her stepfather Paul Higgins live in Presque Isle. She completes her career as director of the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Division (R2D) at the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General. R2D was established in May 2007 to recommend policy and institute Army-wide standards of care for rehabilitation and transition of wounded, ill and injured soldiers.
Before assuming this position in 2008, Springer was chief, Integrated Physical Therapy (PT) Service, where she served as leader to both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. In this role, she ensured world-class rehabilitative care to thousands of wounded service members and other military beneficiaries, averaging over 7,000 visits each month. She was also responsible for conducting, tracking and supervising clinical research projects; overseeing graduate education; supporting congressional projects; supporting amputee, traumatic brain injury and spine centers; and planning for and executing PT service integration for base realignment and closure.
While serving in this position, Springer was also the White House PT consultant, the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command PT consultant and a member of the Military Amputee Research Program Executive Committee.
Springer’s other assignments included chief of PT and director of the Sports PT Residency at West Point, N.Y.; chief of PT at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; chief of PT at Camp Casey, Korea; and PT at Fort Sill, Okla. She earned a Ph.D. in health education from The University of Texas at Austin and is part of the graduate faculty in the Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine-Physical Therapy at Baylor University.
Springer’s awards include: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters (OLCs), Army Commendation Medal with OLCs, Army Achievement Medal, Army Medical Department “A” Proficiency Designator and Order of Military Medical Merit.
Springer is board-certified as both an orthopedic and a sports physical therapy specialist. Her research interests lie in sports physical therapy, amputee rehabilitation, breast cancer and core stabilization. She is published in peer-reviewed journals, a textbook and has presented numerous platform presentations at professional meetings.
Springer, and her husband Steven, and their two children, Nicholas and Michael, live in Potomac, Md. They enjoy camping, hiking and sporting activities.