Commanding Officer

Captain Kathryn M. Stewart

Commander, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune

Captain Stewart grew up as a United States Coast Guard dependent. In 2001, she was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy after graduating from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  She completed tours at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, gaining clinical and leadership experience in Pediatric and Neonatal intensive care settings. She was selected for full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2010 graduated from Duke University with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Lieutenant Stewart transferred to the former National Naval Medical Center, now known as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda.   She served in the role of pediatric nurse practitioner in the outpatient setting and clinical nurse specialist of the inpatient Pediatric Ward and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).   She led the opening of the first stand-alone PICU within the National Capital Region. In September of 2011, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In 2013, LCDR Stewart transferred to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, serving as the Assistant Department Head of Pediatrics and Department Head, Inpatient Pediatrics.   In these roles, she was responsible for personnel and inpatient and outpatient spaces to include the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, PICU, and Inpatient Pediatric Ward.  Appointed as Navy Specialty Leader for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nursing in 2014, she served on the Defense Health Board’s Health Care Delivery subcommittee and led the creation of a PICU additional qualifying designator, facilitating an improved process to deploy Nurse Corps officers.  In 2015, she was appointed as a USUHS Instructor of Pediatrics faculty member.

Lieutenant Commander Stewart was selected for full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2018 graduated with a Master of Health Administration Degree through the Army-Baylor program.  In 2017, she was promoted to the rank of Commander.  Upon graduation, Commander Stewart arrived at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune to serve in the role of Director, Healthcare Business.  She led Tricare Operations, Utilization Management, and Case Management. 

In 2021, Commander Stewart arrived to Naval Medical Forces Atlantic to serve as the N3B, Operations Director.  On 01 Sep 2022, she promoted to the rank Captain and assumed the role of Director, Maritime Operations Center and N3/5 Operations and Plans.  In 2023, Captain Stewart led creation of a Naval Access to Care requirement in collaboration with BUMED 0931, supporting the Surgeon General’s Line of Effort 3, Quality Care delivery.

In 2024, Captain Stewart assumed the role of Executive Officer, USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) where she successfully executed Military Treatment Facility Operations in support of SOUTHCOM’s Continuing Promise 2025 mission. Captain Stewart took the helm as Commander of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune and Director of Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in May 2026.

Captain Stewart is surface warfare medical department officer qualified.  Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.