Adam M . Robinson , Jr . Adam Mayfield Robinson , Jr . ( born November 9 , 1950 ) is a United States Navy vice admiral who served as the 36th Surgeon General of the United States Navy ( 2007 – 2011 ) . Biography . Vice Admiral Robinson entered the naval service in 1977 and holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program . Following completion of his surgical internship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine , Springfield , he was commissioned . Vice Admiral Robinson ’ s first assignment was as a General Medical Officer , Branch Medical Clinic , Fort Allen , Puerto Rico , before reporting to the National Naval Medical Center , Bethesda , MD , in 1978 to complete a residency in General Surgery . His subsequent duty assignments included : Staff Surgeon , U . S . Naval Hospital , Yokosuka , Japan , and Ship ’ s Surgeon , . After completing a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Carle Foundation Hospital , University of Illinois School of Medicine ( 1984 – 85 ) , Vice Admiral Robinson reported to the National Naval Medical Center , Bethesda , as the Head of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Division . While there , he was called to temporary duty in 1987 as Ship ’ s Surgeon in and in 1988 as Ship ’ s Surgeon in . Vice Admiral Robinson reported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth , VA , in 1990 as the Head of the General Surgery Department and Director of General Surgery Residency Program . He was appointed Acting Medical Director for the facility in 1994 . While at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth , Vice Admiral Robinson earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of South Florida . In 1995 , Vice Admiral Robinson reported to the Commander , Naval Surface Force , U . S . Atlantic Fleet , as the Force Medical Officer serving in that capacity for two years . Following that assignment , he reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville in 1997 as the Executive Officer . In January 1999 , as Fleet Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer , Vice Admiral Robinson commanded a detachment of the fleet hospital as a medical contingent to Joint Task Force Haiti ( Operation New Horizon / Uphold Democracy ) . In August 1999 , Vice Admiral Robinson reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery ( BUMED ) as the Director of Readiness and was selected as the Principle Director , Clinical and Program Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in September 2000 , where he also served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs , Clinical and Program Policy . Vice Admiral Robinson was assigned as Commanding Officer U . S . Naval Hospital Yokosuka from September 2001 to January 2004 , after which he received assignment back to BUMED as Deputy Chief of BUMED for Medical Support Operations with additional duty as acting Chief of the Medical Corps . In July 2004 , Vice Admiral Robinson reported as Commander , National Naval Medical Center Bethesda , Maryland . He assumed the duties as Commander , Navy Medicine National Capital Area Region in October 2005 . The author of numerous presentations and publications , Vice Admiral Robinson holds fellowships in the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery . He is a member of the Le Societe Internationale de Chirurgie , the Society of Black Academic Surgeons , and the National Business School Scholastic Society , Beta Gamma Sigma . He holds certification as a Certified Physician Executive from the American College of Physician Executives . Awards and decorations . Vice Admiral Robinson ’ s personal decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( two awards ) , Defense Meritorious Service Medal ( two awards ) , Meritorious Service Medal ( three awards ) , Navy Commendation Medal , Joint Service Achievement Medal , Navy Achievement Medal , and various service and campaign awards .