Bonnie Burnham Potter Rear Admiral Bonnie Burnham Potter ( born c . 1946 ) was the first female physician in the Navy Medical Corps to be selected for flag rank . She served as the commanding officer of the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda , Maryland and Chief of the Navy Medical Corps . Early life . A native of Piedmont , California , Rear Admiral Potter graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1968 with a bachelor ' s degree in Animal Science . Following completion of medical technology training , she attended graduate school at the University of California at Davis in Animal Physiology . She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from St . Louis University School of Medicine in 1975 . Navy career . Potter completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the Naval Regional Medical Center ( NRMC ) , Oakland , California , where she was Chief Resident from 1978 to 1979 . She remained at NRMC Oakland as a staff internist and Residency Training Officer until 1983 . She was assigned as Assistant Head , Internal Medicine Department , Naval Hospital , Portsmouth , Va . from 1983 to 1987 . She also served as the Command Intern Coordinator and Transitional Residency Program Director . In 1987 , Potter transferred to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , F . Edward Hebert School of Medicine , Bethesda , Maryland , where she performed duties as the Medicine Clerkship Coordinator , and Physical Diagnosis Coordinator for National Naval Medical Center , Bethesda , Maryland . From January 1989 to April 1993 , she served as the National Naval Medical Center , Bethesda , Chairman and Program Director , Department of Internal Medicine . As Head , Medical Services , USNS Comfort ( T - AH - 20 ) from August 1990 until April 1991 , she deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm . From May 1993 to May 1995 , Potter was stationed at Naval Medical Center , Portsmouth , Va . as the Deputy Commander and Director of Academic Affairs . She was the Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital , Camp Pendleton , California from June 1995 to January 1997 . In 1997 , her promotion to Rear Admiral ( lower half ) marked her as the first female physician in the United States Navy to be selected for flag rank . Potter was then appointed as Commander of the National Naval Medical Center , Bethesda , Maryland where she also served as the Chief , Navy Medical Corps , Bureau of Medicine and Surgery , Washington , D . C . from April 1997 to September 1999 and as the Chairman , Region 1 TRICARE Executive Board ( Lead Agent ) from July 1998 to August 1999 . In 1999 , Potter was nominated to the rank of Rear Admiral ( upper half ) , and in December 1999 , reported as fleet surgeon , U . S . Atlantic Fleet . Additional duties included Command Surgeon , U . S . Joint Forces Command and medical advisor , Allied Command , Atlantic . Rear Adm . Potter and her husband retired to California in 2003 where she is active in the Navy League and raises alpacas . Awards and decorations . Rear Adm . Potter ' s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Legion of Merit with gold star , the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star , the Navy Commendation Medal , the Navy Achievement Medal , and the Combat Action Medal . In 2000 , while serving as Fleet Surgeon , U . S . Atlantic Fleet , Rear Adm . Potter was awarded the Laureate award by the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine ( ACP - ASIM ) in the U . S . Navy Region for her abiding commitment to excellence in education , research and medical care . Education . Potter graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1968 with a bachelor of science degree in Animal Science . Following completion of medical technology training , she attended graduate school at the University of California at Davis in Animal Physiology . She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from St . Louis University School of Medicine in 1975 . Rear Adm . Potter is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine , with a certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatrics . Prior to her retirement from active duty she held faculty appointments at both the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Georgetown University Schools of Medicine .