Executive Officer

A native of Farmington, Utah, Commander William (Bill) Lawson brings a wealth of experience from over a decade in civilian healthcare administration before beginning his naval career in 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration, a Master of Health Administration, and a Master of Business Administration from Weber State University.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Commander Lawson's first assignment was at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in 2010, where he swiftly became the Department Head for Tricare Operations and Utilization Management.

His subsequent tours have included significant operational and leadership roles. In 2013, he served as the Medical Regulating Control Officer with Fleet Surgical Team Five, deploying aboard the USS MAKIN ISLAND to the Fifth and Seventh Fleets in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. In 2015, he was appointed Department Head of Business Operations at Navy Medicine West.

In 2018, Commander Lawson was selected for a prestigious fellowship in Healthcare Operations at Naval Medical Center San Diego. There, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and, as the Associate Director of Healthcare Business, established the Military Patient Personnel Department, overseeing a staff of over 600 Sailors.

In 2021, he took on a critical role as the Administrator for the Surgeon General’s newest military-civilian partnership at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, ensuring the readiness of Navy Medicine’s elite trauma teams.

In 2023, Commander Lawson returned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Twentynine Palms as the Director for Administration. He was appointed the command’s interim Executive Officer in 2026. His command is located aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), the largest and most premier live-fire and maneuver training center in the world.

In this vital role, he manages daily operations of the 12-bed hospital, supporting a staff of 565 personnel who provide care for the nearly 20,000 personnel on base and the over 45,000 Marines who train there annually.

Commander Lawson is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a qualified Surface Warfare Medical Officer. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, in addition to various unit commendations and awards.