Commanding Officer

Captain Richard Gilliard, Jr.

Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer
U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Okinawa, Japan

Captain Richard Gilliard Jr. is a native of Gary, Indiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Yeoman and subsequently volunteered for Submarine Duty and completed Basic Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. Captain Gilliard earned a B.S. degree in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. He received a commission through the Medical Service Corps In-service Procurement Program in December 1999. Captain Gilliard also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School.
 
Operationally, Captain Gilliard served onboard the USS GROTON (SSN 694) in Groton, Connecticut and USS RHODE ISLAND (SSBN 740)(BLUE) in Kings Bay, GA. He also served in the following staff positions; administrative assistant, Naval Reactors Headquarters, Washington, DC; Washington placement detailer for Shore Special Programs, Naval Personnel Command, Millington, TN; interim director for administration, Naval Medicine Information Management Center (NMIMC), Bethesda, Maryland; Medical Service Corps/Dental Corps officer community manager, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Millington, TN; and Branch Head, Medical Manpower and Resources (N0931C) at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
 
His healthcare leadership assignments include clinic manager/division officer of Primary Care Services and special assistant to the Commanding Officer at U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain. Captain Gilliard as selected for three milestone tours serving as director for administration at Naval Health Clinic Charleston, Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/Naval Hospital Jacksonville, and Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/Naval Medical Center San Diego.
 
In July 2023, Captain Gilliard assumed duties as the Executive Officer of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan comprised of the hospital and six Branch Health Clinics across four different countries.  He led a team of 1,300 military, contract, civilian, and host nation master labor contractors in support of 7^th Fleet, III MEF and forward deployed Naval Forces in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.  Captain Gilliard is now the Commanding Officer for, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command, Okinawa, Japan, and Director, U.S Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan.
 
His personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards). Captain Gilliard completed Joint Military Professional Education (JPME) Phase 1 from Naval War College Monterey.  He is an alumnus of the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and earned the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.