Matthew L . Nathan Vice Admiral Matthew L . Nathan is the 37th Surgeon General of the United States Navy . Education . Nathan received his Bachelors of Science from Georgia Tech and his M . D . from the Medical College of Georgia in 1981 . He completed Internal Medicine specialty training in 1984 at the University of South Florida . Career . Nathan then served as the Internal Medicine Dept Head at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . In 1985 Nathan transferred to Naval Hospital , Groton , Connecticut as leader of the Medical Mobilization Amphibious Surgical Support Team . In 1987 , Nathan transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego as Head , Division of Internal Medicine with additional duty to the Marine Corps , 1st Marine Division . In 1990 he served as a Department Head , Naval Hospital Beaufort , South Carolina before reporting to Naval Clinics Command , London , U . K . where he participated in military - to - military engagements with post - Soviet Eastern European countries . In 1995 , he was assigned as specialist assignment officer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel , providing guidance to over 1 , 500 U . S . Navy Medical Corps officers . In 1998 he accepted a seat at the Joint Industrial College of the Armed Forces located in Washington , D . C . , graduating in 1999 with a Masters in “ Resourcing the National Strategy . ” Nathan went on to serve as the Fleet Surgeon , Forward Deployed Naval Forces , Commander , U . S . 7th Fleet , aboard the flagship USS Blue Ridge ( LCC 19 ) , out of Yokosuka , Japan . In 2001 , he transferred as Deputy Commander , Navy Medical Center Portsmouth , Va . In 2004 Nathan assumed command of Naval Hospital Pensacola with additional oversight of 12 clinics in 4 states where he oversaw Navy medical relief efforts following hurricanes Ivan , Dennis , and Katrina . Despite all facilities receiving crippling blows ; his command still garnered the TRICARE / DOD award for " highest patient satisfaction in a medium sized facility " . In June 2006 , he transferred as the Fleet Surgeon to the commander , U . S . Fleet Forces Command , instrumental in organizing the Fleet Health Domain integration with the Fleet Readiness Enterprise while providing medical global force management . In 2007 , Nathan was assigned as Commander , Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Navy Medicine Region East with command of over 18 , 000 personnel and an operating budget exceeding $ 1 . 2 billion . Nathan also served as Commander , Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Navy Medicine , National Capital Area where he was the Navy component commander to the largest military medical integration and construction project in DOD history . Memberships and awards . Nathan is board certified and holds Fellow status in the American College of Physicians and the American College of Healthcare Executives . He also holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences . He is a recipient of the American Hospital Association “ Excellence in Leadership ” award for the Federal Sector . Nathan ’ s personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal ( 1 ) ; Legion of Merit ( 5 ) ; Meritorious Service Medal ( 2 ) ; Navy Commendation Medal , and Navy Achievement Medal ( 2 ) .