Capt. Melissa C. Austin
Medical Corps, United States Navy
Capt. Melissa C. Austin received her initial commission from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit at Vanderbilt University in 1996. She was designated a Surface Warfare Officer in 1998.
Capt. Austin completed her first sea tour aboard USS Sacramento (AOE 1) as the Assistant First Lieutenant and Main Propulsion Officer and deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch. She then served as the commissioning Training Department Officer aboard USS O’Kane (DDG 77). She completed a shore tour as a Tri-Command Protocol Officer at HQ NORAD, United States Space Command, and Air Force Space Command, before transitioning to the Selected Reserves and serving as the Training Officer for Commander, Naval Forces Europe Joint Task Force Contingency Unit 118 in anticipation of starting medical school. During this time, she earned a Master’s of Basic Science in Biology (Bioinformatics) from the University of Colorado.
Capt. Austin attended medical school under the Health Professions Scholarship Program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps in 2007. After completing a Transitional Internship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, she returned to the surface Navy as the Group Medical Officer for Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 31 in Pearl Harbor.
Capt. Austin completed her residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Washington Medical Center under the Navy Active Duty Delay for Specialists program prior to being assigned as a Staff Pathologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, in 2014. She went on to serve as the Medical Director for Healthcare Operations and the Executive Assistant to the Director in addition to duties as the Medical Director for Clinical Chemistry and the Armed Services Blood Bank Center and as an Associate Program Director for the National Capital Consortium Pathology Residency Program. Transferring to Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia, she served as the Director for Clinical Support Services and the Market Service Lead for Clinical Support Services for the National Capital Region through July of 2018. She went on to serve as the Medical Corps Plans and Policy Officer in the Office of the Chief of the Medical Corps at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Falls Church, Virginia from July of 2018 until May of 2020 before assuming duties as the Executive Officer, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Portsmouth; Deputy Director, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth; and Commanding Officer, Expeditionary Medical Facility Juliet.
Capt. Austin is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pathology and is Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She is an Aresty Scholar and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business Executive Physician Leadership Academy and holds a faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Her personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), and the Air Force Achievement Medal.
Capt. Austin most recently served as the commissioning Commanding Officer of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Capt. Juan N. Rosario
Medical Service Corps, United States Navy
Capt. Rosario is a native of the Dominican Republic. He enlisted in the Navy from Paterson, New Jersey, in November 1992. After boot camp, he served aboard USS Devastator (MCM-6) and USS Guardian (MCM-5) as deck seaman. In May 1995, he attended Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, and reported to Naval Hospital Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1999, he transferred to Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where he was commissioned as an Ensign in May 2001 through the Medical Service Corps, In-service Procurement Program.
In July 2001, he was assigned Inspector-Instructor, Surgical Company Alpha, 4th Medical Battalion, North Versailles, Pennsylvania. He coordinated multi-national exercises and operations to maintain Navy and Marine Corps Reservist mobilization and operational readiness at 12 sites across 11 states. He successfully deployed more than 150 Reservists in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In November 2003, he transferred to Naval Health Clinic New England, Newport, Rhode Island, where he served as Division Officer, Group Practice Manager, and Special Project Coordinator responsible for more than 89K beneficiaries and a $23M renovation project. During his assignment, he was hand-selected to serve as Medical Planner, 2006 New York City Fleet Week and coordinated medical care for 200K visitors and Service Members.
From July 2006 to July 2010, he was assigned to Field Medical Training Battalion-East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as Training Company Commander. He led and trained 6K Hospital Corpsmen, Medical Department Officers, and Religious Program Specialists to serve with Marine Corps operational forces. In 2010, Capt. Rosario was selected for the Managed Care Fellowship with the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and the TRICARE Management Activity (TMA). In August 2011, he transferred to TMA/Defense Health Agency (DHA), Aurora, Colorado, as Senior Military Health Analyst and Deputy Chief, Performance, Analysis, Transition, and Integration Office. He was responsible for writing TRICARE policy, and the transition, contractual compliance, and performance of all the Purchased Care and Managed Care Support Contractors supporting 9.7M TRICARE beneficiaries worldwide.
In May 2013, Capt. Rosario deployed to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as Role II Commanding Officer/Officer-in-Charge, Surgical Company, Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. In August 2014, he reported to Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, and served as Director of Branch Clinics, responsible for the healthcare delivery of 37 tenant commands and 29K operational forces in the US European Command (EUCOM), US Africa Command (AFRICOM), and US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibilities.
In May 2018, he transferred to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Falls Church, Virginia, and served as Director, Healthcare Business and Administration, Deputy Assistant Deputy Chief, and Executive Assistant for Operations, Plans, and Readiness. He developed the U.S. Navy’s first Readiness Performance Plan and served as lead for the DHA, Quadruple Aim Performance Process (QPP) and National Defense Authorization Act 2017 Section 703, Restructuring and Realignment of Military Treatment Facilities. From April 2021 to May 2024, he served as the Director for Administration for Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command/Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Mike, Jacksonville, Florida.
Capt. Rosario holds a Master of Science degree in Business Administration. He is authorized to wear the Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer pin and Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (3); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2); Navy Achievement Medal (3); Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and numerous unit; Service; and campaign medals.
Capt. Rosario assumed the position as Chief of Staff for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in July 2024.
Sgt. Maj. Matthew D. Johnson
United States Army
Sgt. Maj. Johnson’s military and civilian education includes the Sergeant Major Academy (SGM-A), Master Leader Course (MLC), Company Commander and 1SG Course, Battle Staff, Advanced Burn Life Support, Master Resilience Training, AIT Platoon Sergeant, Senior Leader Course (SLC), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Leader Course (ALC), Air Assault, Emergency Medical Technician – Intermediate, and Basic Leader Course (BLC).
Sgt. Maj. Johnson’s combat deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom 2003-2004, 2006-2007, and 2008-2009.
Sgt. Maj. Johnson’s professional memberships, awards, and decorations include the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3), Meritorious Service Medal (3 oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2 oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (3 oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (6 oak leaf clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal (2 campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (4 knots), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (numeral 3 device), NATO Medal (one bronze service star), Certificate of Achievement, Combat Medic Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Driver Badge.