Browns Mills, NJ — Deborah Heart and Lung Center is proud to announce that two of its senior leaders—Lewis Clark, Vice President of Marketing, Media and Public Relations, and Aaron Kugelmass, MD, Chief Medical Officer—have been inducted into the 2025–2026 Honorary Commander Program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL).

They join a distinguished class of local civic and business leaders selected to serve as civilian liaisons to military units on base. Each Honorary Commander is paired with a unit commander for a one-year term to foster mutual understanding and enhance the relationship between the military and surrounding communities.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Kugelmass and Lewis for representing Deborah in this important program,” said Jim Andrews, President and CEO of Deborah Heart and Lung Center. “Their leadership, dedication and community spirit make them outstanding ambassadors—not only for our hospital, but for the partnership between our civilian and military communities.”

The Honorary Commander Program is a longstanding U.S. Air Force initiative designed to expose influential members of the local community to the missions, policies and programs of the Department of Defense. The program helps strengthen the bridge between the military and civilian worlds by fostering transparency, collaboration and shared purpose.

“We’re honored to welcome this year’s class of Honorary Commanders,” said Pikkwan Boston, Public Affairs COMREL Chief at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. “Each of these individuals brings a unique perspective and a deep commitment to service that will help strengthen the bond between our military and the communities we proudly serve.”

As outlined in the program’s mission:

“The mission of the Honorary Commander program is to partner with members of the local community while exposing them to the missions, policies and programs of the United States Air Force and an understanding of the Department of Defense.”

All participants in the Honorary Commander Program have three things in common:

An active role in their community.

A drive to share their JB MDL experiences within their sphere of influence.

A positive impact on public support for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Participants attend events, tour facilities, engage with service members and serve as ambassadors—helping to share the story, challenges and triumphs of today’s military with the broader public.

About the Honorees:

Clark is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications and patient experience leadership. He joined Deborah Heart and Lung Center in 2018 as Vice President of Marketing, Media and Public Relations, and his role has since expanded to include oversight of the Office of Patient Experience—giving him a unique, end-to-end view of the entire patient journey.

A longtime advocate for community and civic engagement, Clark has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards throughout his career. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. His appointment as an Honorary Commander for the 87th Communications Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst further reflects his dedication to public service and strengthening the bond between military and civilian communities.

Aaron Kugelmass, MD, is board-certified in both cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. Dr. Kugelmass earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of California San Francisco. He trained in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Beth Israel Hospital – Harvard Medical School. His clinical interests include acute coronary syndromes, interventional cardiology and healthcare quality improvement. Dr. Kugelmass has also been a principal investigator in numerous clinical research studies and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center extends its heartfelt congratulations to Lewis Clark, Dr. Kugelmass and all others inducted into this year’s class of Honorary Commanders and Commanders Emeritus. Their participation strengthens the enduring partnership between Deborah and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and further reinforces our commitment to the military community.

 Lewis Clark (right) accepts his Honorary Commander certificate from Mr. John Brooks, 87^th ABW Communications Squadron.

Aaron Kugelmass, MD, (right) accepts his Honorary Commander certificate from CMSgt Andre Lazaro, 108^th Medical Group.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey, is a teaching hospital in the prevention, diagnosis, research and treatment of heart, lung and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has treated more than 2.3 million hearts from every corner of the United States and 87 countries. From performing the first adult and pediatric open-heart surgeries in New Jersey, to achieving the lowest open heart surgery mortality risk in the state as recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health, Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader overall and in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in North America; and is rated High Performing in five specialties, Heart Arrhythmia, Heart Attack, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Failure, and Pacemaker Implantation by U.S. News & World Report. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute.