BDAACH dedicates conference room in memory of facilities leader James Brian Connor
U.S. Army Col. Joleen Pangelinan, director of BDAACH, commander of Medical Department Activity-Korea and commander of the 549th Hospital Center, joined Kelly Connor to unveil a commemorative plaque in memory of her late husband inside the newly renamed James “Brian” Connor Conference Room.
Connor, who died Dec. 10, 2025, served as chief of the Facilities Management Division. The plaque honors him as a trusted leader, mentor and colleague whose dedication shaped military medical infrastructure and left a lasting mark on the Defense Health Agency, BDAACH, MEDDAC-Korea and the service members and families he served.
Connor was responsible for 28 medical facilities, 52 support buildings and more than 2 million square feet of infrastructure across Korea. His team supported complex modernization projects and maintained the facilities conditions necessary for accreditation and uninterrupted patient care.
His work went beyond managing buildings. By sustaining the medical infrastructure, Connor’s expertise helped enable doctors, nurses and staff to provide uninterrupted, world-class care to service members and their families.
Connor’s career included assignments at Fort Meade, Maryland, and in Japan. His facilities expertise earned recognition through the U.S. Army Medical Command’s Barney Richmond Facility Management Award.
His professional record was only part of what colleagues remembered. Connor brought quiet strength, integrity and compassion to difficult problems, offering a steady hand and sound advice while mentoring the people around him.
The location of the tribute carries special meaning. The EOC is where hospital leaders make critical decisions, coordinate during crises and plan for the future of the healthcare mission. Dedicating that space in Connor’s name connects his legacy directly to the work he helped make possible.
Before the unveiling, Pangelinan reflected on the stories Kelly Connor had shared about the couple’s life together and invited her to continue sharing those memories.
“I would love to continue hearing that story,” Pangelinan said. “In honor of Brian, let’s do this.”
Kelly Connor said the dedication gave her comfort and a sense that her late husband continues to have a place among the people and the mission he cared about.
“It’s a great honor,” she said. “This makes me feel like he’s no longer lonely. Thank you so much.”
Following the unveiling, members of the Facilities Management Division and hospital staff gathered with Kelly Connor for photographs beneath the plaque, reflecting the community Connor built through years of service and mentorship.
From that day forward, leaders gathering in the room to solve difficult problems will do so under Connor’s name. The plaque will serve as a lasting reminder of his standard of excellence, dedication to the mission and profound care for the community.
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