The Commissioned Officers Association (COA) of the United States Public Health Service was created in 1951 with a general goal of promoting public health as well as addressing issue specifically affecting members of the Public Health Service’s Commissioned Corps. A non-profit organization, the COA received its 501(c)(3) status in 1979.
Examples of the work done by the COA include its efforts in the 1960s to help keep PHS hospitals and clinics open in the face of shifting Congressional budget priorities. While these facilities were eventually shuttered during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, the advocacy work performed by the COA helped solidify its relationship with Congressional leaders and committees with decision-making capabilities. In the Seventies, the COA blocked efforts to abolish the Commissioned Corps, and in 2002, the organization successfully led the fight to defeat efforts to redesignate officers of the Commissioned Corps as civil servants in order to reduce their compensation.
The COA also maintains the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health, Inc. It was created in 2000 as a support organization for personnel serving in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and to help them partner with organizations also involved in the public-health sector.
According to its IRS Form 990, the COA has six major goals:
Advancement of health knowledge and elevation of professional standards
Promotion of interest and welfare of the U.S. Public Health Service and its officers
Observance and reporting legislative trends and needs
Providing communication and information services
Providing informal liaison between policy making groups and members
Conducting welfare, educational and other desirable services
The Commissioned Officers Association ribbon is authorized for wear on the PHS uniform by members in good standing when attending COA functions. While the vast majority of COA members are also members of the Commissioned Corps, membership in the organization is open to civilians.