Commanding Officer

Captain Michael G. Prouty, MSC, USN
Commanding Officer
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH
Callao, Peru

A native of Houston, Texas, Capt. Michael Prouty received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin and completed his PhD at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of Vibrio cholerae. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois, where his research focused on the cytolethal distending toxins’ interactions with host cells.
 
In 2008, Prouty was commissioned in the United States Navy at the rank of Lieutenant. His first duty station was the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) in Silver Spring, Maryland. At NMRC he was assigned to the Enteric Diseases Department focusing on the development of a vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni.
 
While stationed at NMRC, Prouty was deployed from March to October 2011 to the Middle East in support of Operation New Dawn. As the Head of Microbiology assigned to the Forward Deployed Preventive Medicine Unit, it was his duty to conduct surveillance for infectious disease threats among deployed troops and to provide force health protection guidance and support.
 
From 2012-2015, Prouty was stationed at one of the U.S. Navy’s overseas laboratories, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) 2, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. As the Department Head of Laboratory Operations at NAMRU-2, Prouty was responsible for managing 109 host nation scientists and directing a $7.1 million disease surveillance program in in Southeast Asia. Additionally, he worked closely with the Health Department of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to develop the first real-time disease, non-battle injury surveillance system in Cambodia and to establish diagnostic microbiology capability in three partner nation military hospitals.
 
In 2015, Prouty returned to NMRC, where he became the head of the Office of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and of the Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Vaccine Program. In 2016, he became Acting Director of Field Laboratory Operations for NMRC. In 2018 Prouty was named the head of the Enteric Diseases Department, leading a diverse team of three active-duty, three GS scientists and 27 contract scientists with an annual operating budget of $8.4 million for the development of two critical vaccines directed against the most common causes of diarrhea among deployed troops.
 
From 2016-2019, Capt. Prouty served as Technical Product Officer, Military Medical Technology Exchanges, Navy International Program Office, representing Navy Medicine in information exchanges with nine partner nations including Taiwan, Japan, and India. Under this program, the U.S. Navy enhanced interoperability of medical operations with partner nations further enhancing U.S. DoD goals.
 
From 2019-2021 Capt. Prouty was appointed by the Navy Surgeon General as Specialty Leader for Microbiology. In this capacity, he managed 48 Navy Microbiologist stationed in commands throughout the world ensuring the optimal staffing for the required missions.
 
From 2019-2022, Capt. Prouty served as the Deputy Director, and then Director for Science, at NAMRU-6 in Lima, Peru. During this time he was responsible for leading 145 active-duty and host nation scientists to execute a $17.9 million research portfolio covering 8 partner nations in the SOUTHCOM AOR.
 
In May of 2022, Capt. Prouty reported to NAMRU-6, now NAMRU SOUTH, as the Executive Officer, overseeing 280 personnel operating throughout the USSOUTHCOM AOR. In April of 2024 he assumed command of NAMRU SOUTH.
 
Prouty’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal, as well as various unit and campaign awards.