COL Demarais, a native of Wantagh, NY, served for over 30 years as a military nurse in the Navy Nurse Corps and the Army Nurse Corps. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, COL Demarais had assignments in Europe, Korea and the United States, to include Alaska. She held staff and leadership positions at all levels throughout her career including non-traditional assignments as a Senior Health Facilities Planner in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Deputy Corps Surgeon at III Corps, Ft. Hood, TX and the Army Nurse Corps Personnel Proponent Officer, Ft. Sam Houston, TX. COL Demarais’ career culminated as the commander of the US Army Medical Activity and Reynolds Army Community Hospital at Ft. Sill, OK. COL Demarais was selected for this position as one of the first non-physician brigade level commanders in the Army Medical Department.
COL Demarais holds masters degrees from Webster University in Health Facilities Management and from Weidner University in Burn, Emergency and Trauma Nursing. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.
Following her retirement from active service, COL Demarais joined the TRICARE managed care support contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, in 2002 as a project manager. She also served as a Market Vice President for six states and as the Phoenix Hub Clinical Director responsible for clinical services for military beneficiaries in a four state area. COL Demarais retired from TriWest in December 2010. She now volunteers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix and Minneapolis.
COL Demarais is active in the Army Nurse Corps Association and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Honor Society for Nursing. Her military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Field Artillery’s Order of St. Barbara and the Army Medical Department’s Order of Military Merit. Her husband, Richard, is a retired Army Medical Service Corps officer and their son is a Medical Service Corps officer currently serving as a staff officer in Italy.
