Colonel Lana Bernat
COL Lana Bernat is a native of Kensal, North Dakota. She received her commission as an Army Nurse Corps officer in 1996 after graduating from North Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s Degree. After completing a four-year assignment at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Fort Campbell, KY, she transitioned to civilian nursing to support her husband’s military career and provide stability for their growing family. Lana continued her nursing career through many Army transitions in a variety of military and civilian settings, serving in women’s health, case management, and quality management.
With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Lana has served in multiple leadership positions to include Nurse Manager for the Family Birth Center, Regina Medical Center in Hastings, MN; Supervisory Case Manager at Guthrie Army Health Clinic, Fort Drum, NY; and Chief, Quality Management at Guthrie Army Health Clinic, Fort Drum, NY. After returning to active duty in 2017, she served as a Staff Nurse-Midwife and Chief of the Midwifery Service at Tripler Army Medical Center; Director, Female Force Readiness and Health at U.S. Army Medical Command; and Deputy Commander for Nursing at Fort George G. Meade MEDDAC. She also served a four-year term as the Women’s Health Nursing Consultant to the Surgeon General of the Army for OB/GYN nurses and Certified Nurse-Midwives. She most recently served as the Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
Lana completed a Master of Science, Leadership in Healthcare Systems degree from Regis University in 2005. She pursued her decades-long dream of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife, completing a Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery in 2015 at Frontier Nursing University. She completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree at Frontier Nursing University in 2017 and received recognition as a Jonas Veteran’s Healthcare Scholar. She holds board certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.
Lana’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Superior Civilian Service Award, Commander’s Medal for Civilian Service, Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, and the Kitty Ernst Leadership award. COL Bernat is also a recipient of the prestigious Order of Military Medical Merit and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Lana is married to Valent Bernat and is a mother to six children: Morgan, 28; Leigh, 26; Weston, 24; Trenton, 22; Nora, 19; and Ila, 13. She is an avid fitness and outdoor enthusiast and enjoys cooking and crafting in her free time.