AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam (Feb. 20, 2026) Lt. Nakpane Nbohn, a medical-surgical nurse assigned to U.S. Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Guam and U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, has been selected to serve as the first-ever nurse aboard the amphibious warfare ship USS Somerset (LPD 25).

With 11 years of service as a Navy Nurse Corps officer, Lt. Nbohn will serve as the sole medical-surgical nurse aboard the San Diego-based vessel, establishing the foundation for the newly created billet and setting the standard for future nurses assigned to the platform.

“This was a long-term goal,” Nbohn said. “When the opportunity aligned with my career aspirations, I seized it without hesitation.”

Although this will be his first dedicated operational assignment, Nbohn gained shipboard experience during two deployments aboard USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) supporting Pacific Partnership missions. In Guam, he currently serves in a high-acuity environment where he has refined his clinical and leadership skills as a charge nurse and nurse officer of the day.

Certified as a medical-surgical registered nurse, Nbohn also holds credentials in hematology/oncology, advanced life support, pediatric advanced life support, trauma nursing core course, and health education.

As the inaugural ship’s nurse, he anticipates defining the scope of practice for medical-surgical nurses aboard an amphibious warfare ship while strengthening medical readiness for Sailors and embarked Marines.

“Being selected is a tremendous honor,” he said. “I understand the responsibility that comes with being a pioneer, and I am committed to building a strong foundation for those who follow.”

His assignment reflects the Navy’s expanding integration of nursing leadership into operational environments and underscores the growing role of nurses in supporting fleet readiness.

“This selection demonstrates that excellence in medical-surgical nursing translates directly to operational readiness," stated Cmdr. William Westbrook, director of nursing at USNH Guam. "Our medical-surgical nurses manage complexity, think critically, and lead in dynamic environments every day – skills that are essential in the operational setting. This milestone reinforces our commitment to developing agile, mission-ready nurses who are prepared to serve wherever the Navy calls.”.

For junior nurses seeking operational billets, Nbohn offers simple advice: “Seek mentorship and prepare yourself. Success is achieved when preparation meets opportunity.”

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U.S. Naval Hospital Guam is a 282,000 square foot military treatment facility (MTF) that supports the joint forces and strengthens the island by projecting forward-deployed medical power, delivering high-quality care, and forging strategic partnerships. The MTF and its staff of nearly 700 offers a broad range of primary and specialty medical services in support of more than 27,000 beneficiaries