JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While not a welcomed guest at command picnics, the Navy has invited house flies to take part in an innovative project to help detect harmful microbes before they become a threat to military around the world.
Led by Cmdr. Theron Hamilton, assistant officer in charge of the Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE), this three-year effort is turning the common house fly into a global scout for disease-causing bacteria and viruses. The project is funded by the Defense Health Agency through the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program which directly supports one of Navy Medicine’s Lines of Effort, increase deployability or warfighter readiness.
With support from Naval Medical Forces Atlantic Improvement Sciences (IS), Hamilton has applied modern project management tools to lead the effort. He is the first in Navy Medicine to pursue a new project management certification program, and once completed, will earn both Navy Medicine’s Project Management Certification and the Navy’s Additional Qualification Designator (AQD) in project management.
Working with NECE’s Dr. Jason Blanton, Battelle Memorial Institute scientists, NECE lab staff, and researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the team uses cutting-edge next-generation DNA sequencing technology to analyze the microbes house flies collect. These insects naturally land on waste and decaying material, making them ideal collectors of bacteria, viruses, and even drug-resistant “superbugs” that can pose major challenges to treating battlefield injuries.
Samples collected from flies near military bases—including those in the U.S. and locations like Djibouti, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia—are processed using the advanced DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. This allows researchers to detect both known pathogens and emerging microbial threats, including bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics.
This “early warning” approach is a game changer. Rather than reacting to outbreaks after they occur, the Navy can now identify potential risks early, providing military leaders with valuable data to help prevent illness before it spreads.
A critical aspect of this research is its ability to detect antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial species. These “superbugs” pose a significant and growing threat to U.S. force health protection, as conventional antibiotics are often ineffective against them. Battlefield injuries, for instance, are notoriously susceptible to MDR organisms, being at least five and a half times more likely to be infected than non-battle injuries. Tracking the existence and spread of these resistant microbes is paramount to safeguarding military personnel.
Beyond identifying known threats, the project also has the capacity to pinpoint microbes to specific geographic regions, potentially signaling new and unforeseen dangers that medical personnel might encounter.
The first phase of the project analyzed samples from around Fort Riley in Kansas, serving as a successful proof of concept. The second phase has expanded sample collection globally, with improvements in lab techniques and computer analysis based on earlier lessons learned.
Data collected is shared quickly with the Defense Health Agency and other Department of Defense partners. The team has also developed risk maps—easy-to-use visual tools that show where microbial threats may be higher—delivered ahead of schedule to help commanders make informed decisions.
By combining science, strategic planning, and a commitment to constant improvement, this project exemplifies the Navy’s “Get Real, Get Better” mindset—identifying problems, learning fast, and taking action to strengthen warfighter readiness around the world.
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2025 15:00 |
| Story ID: | 499326 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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