Leadership
WarDocs Podcast – CAPT Melissa Austin, MD: From Warship to Walter Reed
BLUF – In a WarDocs podcast interview, Navy Capt. Melissa Austin, former director of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, describes her unconventional career from surface warfare officer to Navy physician and hospital executive, highlighting efforts to restore Walter Reed’s clinical capacity by expanding available beds from approximately 100 to 220, increasing operational operating rooms from eight to 14, and regaining Level II trauma center status. For Navy Medicine, her leadership demonstrates how increasing patient volume, strengthening civilian healthcare partnerships and sustaining clinical proficiency can improve medical readiness, as illustrated by Walter Reed’s successful reception of its largest group of combat casualties in more than a decade.
https://www.wardocspodcast.com/post/capt-melissa-austin-md-from-warship-to-walter-reed
7 Leaders Share Military Medicine Lessons in the USU President’s Strategic Leadership Speaker Series
BLUF – The Uniformed Services University highlighted lessons from seven senior military medical leaders in its President’s Strategic Leadership Speaker Series, emphasizing competence, character, mentorship, knowing and caring for subordinates, high-reliability healthcare, and leading effectively in complex operational environments. For Navy Medicine, the presentations by former Navy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham and former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Capt. Stephen Ferrara offer practical leadership insights for developing medical officers who can balance patient safety, organizational performance and operational readiness.
https://news.usuhs.edu/2026/10/7-leaders-share-military-medicine.html
From the White House Medical Unit to Rebuilding Trust Across the VA- CAPT (Ret) Gerard R. Cox, MD
BLUF – Retired Navy Capt. Gerard Cox reflects on a 30-year Navy medical career spanning service in the White House Medical Unit, leadership as Fifth Fleet/NAVCENT Force Surgeon overseeing expeditionary and coalition medical operations, and senior VA roles where he helped rebuild trust and implement high-reliability healthcare after the 2014 access-to-care scandal. For Navy Medicine, his experiences emphasize that effective medical leadership depends as much on culture, relationships, patient safety and frontline engagement as clinical expertise, with his guiding advice being to keep patients’ needs ahead of personal career ambitions.
Acting Navy Secretary tells Marines that suicide is a ‘leadership issue’
BLUF – Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Marine leaders at Camp Lejeune that suicide prevention is a leadership responsibility, calling for leaders to know their people well enough to recognize when they are struggling, while Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith urged “intrusive leadership” that actively engages with Marines and their families. For Navy Medicine, the emphasis on frontline leadership complements clinical mental health care and suicide-prevention programs, while the Navy and Marine Corps consider expanding peer-based prevention initiatives and the chaplain corps to strengthen early intervention and support.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-secretary-mental-health
NMCP Association Director of Surgical Services – Due 7 MAR 2025
The Associate Director, Surgical Services (ADSS) assists the Director with implementing his/her vision for the future, executing the administrative workload and providing oversight of clinic and surgical operations. The ADSS cultivates a collaborative work environment among the ten Department Heads (Anesthesia, Brain & Spine, Cancer Coordination Center, Eyes Ears Nose and Throat, General Surgery Oral Maxillofacial surgery, Operative Support Services, Orthopedics, Urology, and Gynecological Services, and Obstetrics). The incumbent is responsible in assisting the director in using available resources to provide the best possible patient care. The incumbent also provides guidance and direction to leaders within the directorate regarding administrative matters, management of personnel, budgetary issues and clinic management.
The position is open to Navy Medical Department officers of all Corps at the O-4 to O-6 level with a professional clinical background. All applicants must have the approval of their Detailer to apply.
The preferred candidate will have the following attributes:
1) A track record of broad superior performance in both clinical and leadership positions;
2) Effective interpersonal, communicative, and collaborative skills;
3) Proven ability to function in operational and academic settings and to understand operational and academic imperatives;
4) Superior military bearing.
Interested candidates should submit (preferably via e-mail) a letter of interest, a short bio, copies of the 3 most recent FITREPs, and a CV by 07 MAR 2025 to:
Tresa R. James
Administrative Assistant, Director of Surgical Services
Naval Medical Readiness Training Center
620 John Paul Jones Circle
Portsmouth VA 23708
Office: 757-953-3051
Multiple Leadership Positions at the Best Command in Navy Medicine…USNMRTC Guam!
Please consider applying for any of these positions mentioned below. All applicants must be O3 or above and require Detailer approval to apply unless they already have 1 year of time on station left in Guam:
- Director for Medical Services (DMS)
- Associate Director for Medical Services (ADMS)
- Director for Branch Clinics (DBC)
- Associate Director for Branch Clinics (ADBC)
- Director for Mental Health (DMH)
- Associate Director for Mental Health (ADMH)
- Director for Public Health (DPH)
- Associate Director for Clinical Support Services (ADCSS)
- Department Head for Quality Management
- Department Head for OB/GYN
Please submit your letter of intent with preference of positions, BIO, and CV to CDR Grant Layton (contact is in the global) no later than 14 February 2025.
Director/Associate Director functions include but are not limited to:
- Responsible to the Commanding Officer via the Executive Officer for the coordination and efficient operation of all matters within the directorate. As a member of 13 strong Board of Directors team, participates in system-wide policy decisions affecting hospital operations and functional area activities.
- Directs, implements, and executes policies and procedures relative to the departments assigned to the Directorate.
- Chairs directorate level DH meetings and enhances collaboration between departments.
- Collaborates with all command directors for the effective delivery of healthcare.
- Participates in the development and proper execution of the annual operations to include equipment, training, and travel budget.
- Performs other appropriate functions as directed by higher authority to include NMFP, BUMED and DHA.
- Serves as a voting member of the ESC. (Directors)
- Has responsibility for the professional development of Directorate staff to include, but not limited to, applications for full-time DUINS, special assignments, and general career counseling.
POCs below for further information (all contact info is in the global):
DMS/ADMS: CAPT Aaron Frank
DBC/ADBC: CAPT Damon Jensen
DMH: CDR Francine Segovia
DPH: CDR Paul Mayo
ADCSS: CDR James Jeff
QM: CDR Sonya McKay
OB/GYN: LCDR Jena Glavy