Prior to a recent Town Board Meeting, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and the Brookhaven Town Board presented a proclamation to Retired Army Major Paul Willms, who grew up in Stony Brook and now resides in Setauket. He was honored for 22 years of military service with distinction in the U.S. Army, making significant contributions to military healthcare and readiness. He provided critical medical care during multiple combat deployments and held leadership roles at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, and Keller Army Community Hospital. As a leader in Military Healthcare, Major Willms played a vital role in accrediting the only Department of Defense Urgent Care Center, improving care for over 33,000 service members and saving the Defense Health Agency (DHA) over $580,000 annually. As a Primary Care Case Manager at West Point, he mentored 18 physician assistant students, shaping the future of Army medicine.
Major Willms served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan (2004-2005) and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq (2006-2007). He was later stationed at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he was promoted to Sergeant First Class. In 2010, he was accepted into the baccalaureate nursing program at Stony Brook University and graduated in 2012 as a registered nurse.
In October 2012, Major Willms was commissioned in the Army as a Second Lieutenant and served as a Registered Nurse at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was then promoted to Captain and continued his education in nursing as a full-time soldier. From leading mass casualty responses to overseeing vaccination efforts for 12,000 personnel, his service has strengthened military medical readiness. Major Willms' 22 years of service has had a lasting impact on military medical readiness, and his leadership and dedication leave a lasting mark on the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense.
Pictured left to right are Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich; Town Clerk Kevin LaValle; Councilman Neil Manzella; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Shane Willms (son); Molly Willms (daughter); Supervisor Dan Panico; Retired Army Major Paul Willms; Jennifer Willms (wife) and Caden Willms (son); Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig; Councilman Michael Loguercio; and Councilman Neil Foley.
Credit: Town of Brookhaven