The majority of patients who come to Naval Hospital Bremerton for their healthcare needs never meet Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Ashley E. Painter.

Yet she gets to know quite a few of them.

The LaPorte, Colorado native is a Navy medical laboratory technician. She capably handles – all done behind the scenes - her primary duties of providing accurate and expedited lab results for active duty, retiree and family member eligible beneficiaries in the Pacific Northwest region.

“Doctors would not be able to accurately identify what ailments the patients have without the exact answers the laboratory provides,” said Painter, who has been in her chosen field for six and a half year. “The lab tests we perform here do everything from confirming no genetic abnormities of unborn babies to cancer. Without our knowledge and expertise, they would just be guessing.”

There are approximately 440 laboratory studies done daily at NHB. Last year alone, the core lab conducted such 435,750 tests for such needs as hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, blood bank, point of care testing, microbiology and/or cytology/histology.

Painter attests that it can definitely be challenging at times in her duties.

“One of the most difficult parts about being a lab tech is the gravity of the tests we are performing,” Painter explained. “To us we don’t just receive samples. We see every sample as a patient, and we treat it with the upmost care.”

Along with ensuring timely turn around on all results of tests submitted to the laboratory, Painter’s responsibility also include maintenance, quality control and accounting of over $2.1 million of equipment, reagents and supplies.

She has worked two specialty assignments in blood bank and microbiology as an advanced laboratory technician, held multiple work center supervisor positions and subject matter expert lead technician positions across her several duty stations. Her varied - and daily - lab duties are all predicated in helping provide healthcare to those in need.



“Knowing that we are helping people get the answers and the care that they need is gratifying,” noted Painter. “When I worked in the blood bank, we were issuing units to newborn and premature babies and were literally saving their lives. There’s nothing more gratifying than that.”

It took her a little time to find her niche after graduating from Poudre High School in 2015. After two years at Colorado State University, Painter was driven to serve her country and help care for patients.

“I grew up in a small town and didn’t have much going on. When I turned 20, I knew I wanted to do something bigger with my life and decided to join the service and be a part of something much bigger than myself,” Painter said.

Her career has also been personally fulfilling as much as professionally rewarding.

“I met my husband Will who is active duty Army at my first duty station in San Antonio,” said Painter. “We have now been together for six years and have two beautiful boys.”

From her initial appointment at Navy Medicine Training Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Painter has been stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth before her current assignment at NHB.

She also deployed in 2019 on the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) from Norfolk, Virginia, to 13 countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean in support of humanitarian assistance and partner-building efforts.



“One of my favorite experiences was getting to deploy on the Continuing Promise mission,” Painter related. “We stopped in 13 different countries and offered medical aid out in towns and would bring people back to the ship to be treated in the intensive care unit and preform surgeries. We were able to touch so many people’s lives. It was a really cool experience.”

Another more recent cool experience was Painter advancing to her current rank as a second class petty officer, with credit going to her strong work ethic and service before self-ethos.

“In my early years in the Navy I took on many collateral duties, offered to go on deployments and have maintained my motivation and drive throughout. Without taking on those extra responsibilities my promotion would not be possible. It is very hard to pick up rank in the corpsman community. It takes being an expert at not just your job but being able to juggle multiple collaterals and extra duties,” explained Painter.

Some of the additional tasks as well as deployment have provided the opportunity to work in a joint service environment with other service branches. That type of setting is commonplace being both an Army and Navy family at home.

“Army-Navy game day is always a tense day in our house,” remarked Painter. “My husband is always a good sport and has supported my Navy career from the beginning.”

“He does however call me a ‘squid,’” she good-naturedly added.

From serving on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to deployment memories and a loving family, Painter has branched out well beyond her formative years.

“Being able to sacrifice and serve has been such an important part of my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just being a part of something so much bigger than yourself is really eye opening,” stressed Painter.

When asked to sum up her experience with Navy Medicine in one sentence, Painter replied, “I am proud to serve my country, my community, and my peers.”