The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) held a change of command and retirement ceremony June 21 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Capt. Robert Hawkins relieved Capt. Todd Wagner as commander of NMCPHC. Hawkins served as Deputy Commander to Wagner prior to assuming this new role.
Wagner, who was awarded the Legion of Merit for his leadership in support of Navy Public Health and the Navy Medicine mission, took command at NMCPHC in August 2016.
“Capt. Wagner leaves behind a tremendous legacy of success for Navy Medicine,” said Hawkins. “He’s been a tremendous leader and personal mentor. Big shoes to fill for sure! That being said, I look forward to following in his footsteps, helping to ensure that the Public Health Center continues to serve as a force multiplier and key contributor to Force Health Protection and Readiness.”
Hawkins, a native of Wisconsin, enlisted in the Navy in 1983. He completed the Nuclear Power Training Program before serving on two submarines – the USS Sunfish (SSN 649) and the USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655). After completing these tours, Hawkins was selected for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina and was commissioned in 1993. In 1995 he completed an MBA from Webster University.
Hawkins then went on to spend four years in the intensive care ward at Naval Hospital Charleston, South Carolina before he was selected for the Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program. Upon completing his training, he earned a Master of Science from Georgetown University and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He maintains an active practice at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. He continued his education at Rush University, earning both a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in Leadership and the Business Healthcare and a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
Recently, Hawkins completed a Masters of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies at the Navy War College. He was a staff nurse anesthetist at Naval Hospital Jacksonville Florida, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and Fleet Surgical Team Eight. He also completed wartime deployments onboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1), the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and the USS Bataan (LHD-5). Furthermore, he is an experienced instructor holding education leadership positions as a clinical instructor, clinical site director and deputy program manager.
Hawkins has received many awards for his leadership and service including the Outstanding Master Faculty Award, The Faculty Leadership Award and the Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award for the Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program at Portsmouth on three separate occasions. His personal military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medial (five awards) and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (two awards).
Vice Adm. Forrest Faison, Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery presided over the change of command. “Ceremonies like today's are historic in the life of a command. They are the culmination of achievement for the outgoing Commander, and the next step in a challenging, yet rewarding journey for the incoming Commander,” said Faison.
NMCPHC is part of the Navy Medicine team, a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high-quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.
For more information on NMCPHC please visit our website,
https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/Pages/Home.aspx.