Navy Optometrist at MCRD San Diego Named 2026 AFOS Navy Optometrist of the Year
BLUF – Navy Cmdr. Mary Beth Linnell, optometry division officer at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, was named the 2026 Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services Navy Optometrist of the Year for her clinical leadership and contributions to combat readiness, including overseeing vision assessments and rapid eyewear delivery for more than 17,000 Marine recruits annually. For Navy Medicine, her recognition highlights the operational importance of optometry and the contributions of hospital corpsmen and civilian technicians in preventing lost training days, supporting marksmanship qualification and ensuring recruits are medically ready for deployment.