Photos

San Antonio, TX

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 13, 2025) – Dr. John Simecek, director, Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine (CHRM), was awarded the Civilian Service Commendation Medal by Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Buechel, Nurse Corps, during an All Hands Meeting held at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Simecek, a retired Naval dentist, joined the Navy in 1972 serving for 23 years and retired at the rank of lieutenant commander. He joined NAMRU San Antonio in 2009 and has served as the CHRM director for 11 years. He will be retiring from federal service in the fall and will miss the camaraderie. NAMRU San Antonio is one of eight research laboratories within Naval Medicine Research and Development. Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released) Share

San Antonio, TX

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 13, 2025) – Dr. John Simecek, director, Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine (CHRM), was awarded the Civilian Service Commendation Medal by Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Buechel, Nurse Corps, during an All Hands Meeting held at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Simecek, a retired Naval dentist, joined the Navy in 1972 serving for 23 years and retired at the rank of lieutenant commander. He joined NAMRU San Antonio in 2009 and has served as the CHRM director for 11 years. He will be retiring from federal service in the fall and will miss the camaraderie. NAMRU San Antonio is one of eight research laboratories within Naval Medicine Research and Development. Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released) Share

Jacksonville, FL

Michael Jennings, more commonly known as Mr. J, the most senior and final remaining civilian galley employee at Naval Hospital Jacksonville has dedicated more than 35 years of support to our warfighters, veterans, and their families on the homefront. Share

San Antonio, TX

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 13, 2025) – Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Biberston, Medical Corps, of Casper, Wyo,, epartment head, Expeditionary and Trauma Medicine, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal by Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Buechel during an All Hands Meeting held at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Biberston, was recently selected as NAMRU San Antonio’s Junior Officer of the Year for 2024 and is the only Pulmonary and Critical Care physician currently serving within Naval Medicine Research and Development (NMR&D). NAMRU San Antonio is one of eight research laboratories within NMR&D. Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released) Share

San Antonio, TX

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (March 13, 2025) – Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Biberston, Medical Corps, of Casper, Wyo., department head, Expeditionary and Trauma Medicine, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal by Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Buechel during an All Hands Meeting held at the Battlefield Health and Trauma Research Institute. Biberston, was recently selected as NAMRU San Antonio’s Junior Officer of the Year for 2024 and is the only Pulmonary and Critical Care physician currently serving within Naval Medicine Research and Development (NMR&D). NAMRU San Antonio is one of eight research laboratories within NMR&D. Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Burrell Parmer, NAMRU San Antonio Public Affairs/Released) Share

Camp Pendleton, CA

Master Chief Petty Officer Mario L. Lyons, outgoing command master chief for Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha, presents the ceremonial cutlass to Navy Capt. Kenneth R. Basford, commanding officer of EMF 150 Alpha, as he requests to be relieved of his duties during a change of charge ceremony held March 12, 2025, at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. The cutlass symbolizes the authority of the command master chief and is passed to the commanding officer who then passes it to the incoming command master chief indicating a change of responsibility from the outgoing and incoming senior enlisted leaders of the command. For 250 years, Navy Medicine has navigated the globe, actively rendering assistance to our warfighters by keeping them healthy and sustaining their readiness requirements to stay in the fight. Share

Camp Pendleton, CA

Navy Capt. Kenneth R. Basford, commanding officer of Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha, awards Master Chief Petty Officer Mario L. Lyons, outgoing command master chief for EMF 150 Alpha, with the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his outstanding service during his tour as senior enlisted leader for the command during a change of charge ceremony held March 12, 2025, at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. For 250 years, Navy Medicine has navigated the globe, actively rendering assistance to our warfighters by keeping them healthy and sustaining their readiness requirements to stay in the fight. Share

Camp Pendleton, CA

Master Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Flowers, incoming command master chief for Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha, receives the ceremonial cutlass from Navy Capt. Kenneth R. Basford, commanding officer of EMF 150 Alpha, during a change of charge ceremony held March 12, 2025, at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. The cutlass symbolizes the authority of the command master chief and is passed to the commanding officer who then passes it to the incoming command master chief indicating a change of responsibility from the outgoing and incoming senior enlisted leaders of the command. For 250 years, Navy Medicine has navigated the globe, actively rendering assistance to our warfighters by keeping them healthy and sustaining their readiness requirements to stay in the fight. Share

Camp Pendleton, CA

Navy Capt. Kenneth R. Basford, commanding officer of Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha, provides remarks during a change of charge ceremony held March 12, 2025, at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, during which Master Chief Petty Officer Mario L. Lyons was relieved by Master Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Flowers as the command master chief for the EMF. For 250 years, Navy Medicine has navigated the globe, actively rendering assistance to our warfighters by keeping them healthy and sustaining their readiness requirements to stay in the fight. Share

Camp Pendleton, CA

Attendees sing “Anchors Aweigh” during a change of charge ceremony held March 12, 2025, at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, during which Master Chief Petty Officer Mario L. Lyons was relieved by Master Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Flowers as the command master chief for the Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha. For 250 years, Navy Medicine has navigated the globe, actively rendering assistance to our warfighters by keeping them healthy and sustaining their readiness requirements to stay in the fight. Share

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

From left, Seaman Recruit Joselyn Alvarado, Seaman Apprentice Jacob Rivera Calvo and Seaman Apprentice Taotao Zhang, were excited to greet Isabel during a visit to U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Jan. 22, 2025. The Labrador retriever mix is enrolled in the American Red Cross Animal Visitation Program and will become a regular visitor to the hospital beginning Mar. 13, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily McCamy) Share

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Apollo, an Australian Shepherd who is part of the American Red Cross Animal Visitation Program, gives a "high-five" to Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Lee Tranca during a visit to U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Jan. 22, 2025. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Adrian Cabalit and Tranca, both members of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Guantanamo Bay, took a moment to enjoy the interaction with Apollo. Canine visitation at the hospital will become a recurring event beginning March 13, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily McCamy) Share