AMEDD Futures 2039

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The Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF)  completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the AMEDD Futures 2039 Project, which was designed to develop a capacity for futures thinking within the Army Medical Department (AMEDD), and to explore major trends impacting the AMEDD over the next 30 years. Participants included more than 40 military and civilian AMEDD personnel, located in the United States and Europe.

Phase 1 consisted of a workshop that took place in San Antonio, Texas, on November 14, 2008 where participants discussed 14 provocative forecasts developed by IAF, for military medicine in 2039.

Phase 2 divided participants into six groups, with each group exploring one of these topics. Led by futurists Jonathan Peck, Bill Rowley, Bob Olson, and Ed Ponatoski, each group conducted an environmental scan and then created forecasts of their topics for 2039. They also made recommendations of actions the AMEDD should take today to prepare.

Common themes emerged throughout the groups, as many participants could not address one topic without addressing the others. The papers and presentations reflected an extensive review of trends currently determining the future of warfare, health care, military medicine, global stability, and other issues. Participants demonstrated an ability to create provocative forecasts with the potential to reshape current practices. Many participants identified the AMEDD Futures 2039 Project as a valuable learning experience, with several stating that it completely changed their way of thinking – even the way they read the newspaper or think about current events.