Who We Are
The PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health was established in June 2000 as a not-for-profit organization to serve the education and research needs of the Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS. Since that time, the Foundation has grown and matured through the generosity of our donors which has allowed us to expand our programs.
Issues and Advocacy
Our primary goal is to advance and promote the mission of public health in the United States. We do this by advocating on behalf of public health professionals and public health organizations, with a special emphasis on the officers of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
We advocate for:
Additional information can be found in the Foundation’s Annual Reports.

STRATEGIC GOALS
The COF has five strategic goals:
ADVOCACY
Advance public health and public health leadership through participation in, and collaboration on, initiatives that promote the public health mission of the PHS Commissioned Corps and the overarching importance of public health for the Nation.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Conduct and fund public health education and training programs for PHS commissioned officers and other health professionals.
GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
Maintain an effective and informed Board of Trustees and increase the Foundation’s financial resources in order to provide greater support for public health initiatives that are relevant to the mission of the Foundation.
PRESERVATION OF HERITAGE
Support activities and programs that highlight and preserve the historical legacy of the Public Health Service and the PHS Commissioned Corps.
PROJECT AND RESEARCH SUPPORT
Support and conduct projects and research studies that advance and promote public health and public health leadership nationally and globally.
These strategic goal areas form the basis of the COF STRATEGIC PLAN 2013–2018. Virtually all of the Plan’s goals and objectives are considered to be ongoing actions. In coordination with this Plan, the Board of Trustees will maintain a COF Action Plan with key performance indicators and/or measurable outcomes, designed to ensure steady progress toward achieving the goals and objectives contained within the Strategic Plan.