Hospital Leadership

Commanding Officer

Capt. Lawson

Captain Lawson enlisted in the United States Navy in 1992 as an Electronics Technician, serving aboard USS Peterson (DD-969) and at Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Mayport, Florida. Selected for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jacksonville University and was commissioned in 2002.

 He began his Nurse Corps career at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, deploying in support of operations in Iraq and Kuwait. Selected for the Navy Nurse Corps Anesthesia Program, he earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University and became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

 Lawson reported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where he deployed as an Individual Augmentee to an Army Forward Surgical Team supporting Joint Special Operations Forces in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. He subsequently served with Fleet Surgical Team EIGHT, deploying aboard USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Wasp (LHD-1), USS San Antonio (LPD-17), and USS New York (LPD-21) in support of combat operations, humanitarian response, and joint exercises.

 His leadership assignments include Division Officer, Anesthesia Department, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; Deputy Department Head for Medical aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78); Director of Surgical Services, U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Assistant Specialty Leader for Navy Nurse Anesthesia; Executive Officer, Expeditionary Medical Facility Juliet; Director of Surgical Services, NMRTC Rota, Spain; and Executive Officer, NMRTC Great Lakes.

 A graduate of the Naval War College, Lawson earned a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies. His operational experience includes leadership of surgical support deployments in support of U.S. Central Command and Operation Inherent Resolve, COVID-19 response missions under U.S. Northern Command, and medical screening operations for more than 10,000 Afghan evacuees during Operation Allies Welcome.

 Lawson’s awards include the Military Health System Military Nursing Leadership Award and Outstanding Military Instructor of the Year for the Uniformed Services University Nurse Anesthesia Program. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards).

Executive Officer

Capt. William B. Nguyen

Nguyen’s assignments in Naval Medicine include: General Medical Officer at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina. During this tour, he deployed as an Individual Augmentee and was the Senior Medical Advisor for the Navy Embedded Team during Operation Enduring Freedom, staff family medicine at U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, and as the Director for Medical Services at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. 

Operationally, he has held positions as the senior medical officer on the USS America (LHA-6) and carrier strike group surgeon on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), where he participated in a record deployment to the Middle East during the Iranian Crisis. Additionally, he served as Force Surgeon for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Senior Staff Physician for the 1st Medical Battalion under the 1st Marine Logistics Group of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Fleet Marine Force. Currently, Nguyen serves as the Executive Officer of the Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command and as the Deputy Director at U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy.  
 
Nguyen is a Fellow of the American Board of Family Medicine and an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University. Additionally, he holds qualifications as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO), Naval Flight Surgeon (FS), Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer (FMFWO), and Aerial Gunner Observer (AO). His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals (4), Navy Commendation Medals (2), a Navy Achievement Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards. unit and campaign awards. 

Command Senior Enlisted Leader

CMDCM Jose J. Ramiro

Command Master Chief Petty Officer (EXW/AW/SW/IW) Jose J. Ramiro reported to U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Center/U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy in September 2024. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the command senior enlisted leader onboard the Wasp-class landing helicopter dock amphibious assault ship USS BOXER (LHD 4), Naval Base San Diego, California. 

A native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, Ramiro enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1996 as an Airman Recruit and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. He completed Airman Apprentice Training and was quickly assigned to the Nimitz class-nuclear aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Upon completion of his first three years at sea and his first overseas deployment, he reported to Operations Specialist “A” School in Dam Neck, Virginia, graduating with honors. 

In 1999, Ramiro reported to the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39), where he completed multiple counter-narcotics patrols before transferring to the Lackland Law Enforcement Academy in 2001. Ramiro graduated with honors and reported to Naval Security Department, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba, Puerto Rico. After serving as Field Training Officer, Field Supervisor, Watch Commander, Security Emergency Response Team, Mountain Bike Patrol, and Protective Service Detail for Commander, U.S. Naval Southern Command, he separated from the U.S. Navy in 2005 and entered a civilian career. Ramiro was critical to the closure of one of the largest naval facilities in the world. In 2006, Ramiro reenlisted in the Navy and reported back to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes to complete veterans’ orientation for active duty. 

Upon returning to active duty, he reported to the USS McInerney (FFG 8) as an Anti-Submarine/Surface Tactical Air Controller and Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure member and was recruited by the U.S. Coast Guard to join Law Enforcement Detachment 402 in executing Operation PANAMA EXPRESS. His efforts contributed to the first recorded capture of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) and COMFOURTHFLEET first ever counter SPSS TACMEMO. In 2010, Ramiro was crucial in the hot transfer of the USS McInerney to Pakistan before reporting to Commander, Naval Forces Europe, Commander, Naval Forces Africa, and Commander, Sixth Fleet. Advancing to Chief Petty Officer, he served as the J-33 Current Operations and Maritime Operations Center leading non-commissioned officer and deployed numerous times in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility in support of Maritime Domain Awareness. Additionally, he embarked numerous times onboard the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), as the Joint Operations and Intelligence Center non-commissioned officer in charge during operations JUKEBOX LOTUS, UNIFIED PROTECTOR, ODYSSEY DAWN, and ODYSSEY GUARD. 

Ramiro reported to SEAL Team Three in 2013 as the Combat Support Element and J-3 Senior Enlisted Leader for the Special Operations Command Central-Crisis Response Element and Special Operations Task Force-Iraq. On his last day in Iraq, Ramiro was selected for the Command Senior Enlisted Program. 

In 2016, Ramiro reported to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two for duty as Command Senior Chief aboard the littoral combat ships USS Billings (LCS 15) and later, USS Detroit (LCS 7). 

Following his selection to Master Chief Petty Officer in 2017, Ramiro was selected to report as the Command Master Chief aboard the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), named after Medal of Honor recipient and SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy. Ramiro, acting as the Boarding Officer, was critical during the Murphy’s execution of UNITAS LX, where the ship rescued five Peruvian mariners in distress, and was later involved in the ship’s first counter-narcotic interdiction of a go-fast smuggling vessel. Upon completion of Ramiro’s tour, the USS Michael Murphy was presented with the battle efficiency award and the U.S. Coast Guard special operations and meritorious team commendation awards. 

In 2022, he was selected by Commander, Destroyer Squadron One as the first rated Command Master Chief to be assigned to a U.S. Navy destroyer squadron. Embarking onboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) for nine months in support of multinational and bilateral exercises and operations within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, Ramiro was credited for instituting the highest standards of material, operational, and warfighting readiness across 11 Arleigh Burke destroyers operating in four different areas of operations. 

In February 2023, he reported for duties as Command Senior Enlisted Leader onboard the USS Boxer (LHD 4). CMDCM Ramiro was responsible for establishing a joint culture of professionalism and warrior toughness between Amphibious Squadron Five and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon completion of his tour, USS Boxer was presented with the battle efficiency and Captain Ney Excellence awards. 

Ramiro’s professional achievements include 13 operational deployments across all the fleets and combatant commands AORs, graduating from the Joint Special Operations University Forces Senior Enlisted Academy, the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, and the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat course. Additionally, he has completed the Joint Special Operations University Planning Course and the Maritime Security Intelligence Officer Course. 

As a testament to his leadership and achievements, he was inducted to the Distinguished Veterans Hall of Fame, Class 2022, by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Puerto Rico Chapter. Ramiro’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Army Commendation Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), Voluntary Service Medal, and various unit, campaign and service medals.