Leadership
Commander and Director
Captain Kathryn M. Stewart
Nurse Corps, United States Navy
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune
Captain Stewart grew up as a United States Coast Guard dependent. In 2001, she was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy after graduating from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She completed tours at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, gaining clinical and leadership experience in Pediatric and Neonatal intensive care settings. She was selected for
full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2010 graduated from Duke University with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Lieutenant Stewart transferred to the former National Naval Medical Center, now known as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda. She served in the role of pediatric nurse practitioner in the outpatient setting and clinical nurse specialist of the inpatient Pediatric Ward and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). She led the opening of the first stand-alone PICU within the National Capital Region. In September of 2011, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In 2013, LCDR Stewart transferred to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, serving as the Assistant Department Head of Pediatrics and Department Head, Inpatient Pediatrics. In these roles, she was responsible for personnel and inpatient and outpatient spaces to include the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, PICU, and Inpatient Pediatric Ward. Appointed as Navy Specialty Leader for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nursing in 2014, she served on the Defense Health Board’s Health Care Delivery subcommittee and led the creation of a PICU additional qualifying designator, facilitating an improved process to deploy Nurse Corps officers. In 2015, she was appointed as a USUHS Instructor of Pediatrics faculty member.
Lieutenant Commander Stewart was selected for full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2018 graduated with a Master of Health Administration Degree through the Army-Baylor program. In 2017, she was promoted to the rank of Commander. Upon graduation, Commander Stewart arrived at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune to serve in the role of Director, Healthcare Business. She led Tricare Operations, Utilization Management, and Case Management.
In 2021, Commander Stewart arrived to Naval Medical Forces Atlantic to serve as the N3B, Operations Director. On 01 Sep 2022, she promoted to the rank Captain and assumed the role of Director, Maritime Operations Center and N3/5 Operations and Plans. In 2023, Captain Stewart led creation of a Naval Access to Care requirement in collaboration with BUMED 0931, supporting the Surgeon General’s Line of Effort 3, Quality Care delivery.
In 2024, Captain Stewart assumed the role of Executive Officer, USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) where she successfully executed Military Treatment Facility Operations in support of SOUTHCOM’s Continuing Promise 2025 mission. Captain Stewart took the helm as Commander of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune and Director of Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in May 2026.
Captain Stewart is surface warfare medical department officer qualified. Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.
Executive Officer
Captain Kathleen R. Dagher
Medical Service Corps, United States Navy
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune
Captain Dagher is a native of California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Economics from Bentley College in 2000, a Master of Science in Health Services Administration in 2006 from George Washington, a Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps Command and Staff in 2016 and a Master of Military Operational Studies from the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) in 2017.
Prior to graduate school and joining the Navy she worked in international investment banking. CAPT Dagher was commissioned in the Navy in 2006 through the Health Services Collegiate Program. Within her first few months in the military, she deployed to Iraq with 2nd MLG. While deployed from 2006 to 2008 she served as the Operations Officer of Al Taqqadum and the XO of Fallujah and Ramadi Surgical. While in Iraq, she spearheaded the women’s and children’s cooperative engagements, opening five clinics and a nursing school and refurbishing Fallujah Hospital Labor and Delivery Ward.
Ashore she was awarded the OPNAV Fellowship program. She then served as the Naval Health Services Support Requirements Officer for the Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration Command, managing a $524m dollar budget and developing the first initial capabilities document for Naval Health Service Support. CAPT Dagher transitioned to be Officer in Charge of Naval Medical Administrative Unit Monterey, CA, serving NPS, DLI and central to Northern CA.
CAPT Dagher was the first Staff Corps Officer to be selected for the School of Advanced Warfighting and the first female Navy Officer to attend. In her next assignment she was the lead for the CNO’s Naval Expeditionary Health Service Support Requirements Evaluation Team, recommending solution sets in support of restructuring strategy and organization to meet the requirements of Distributed Maritime Operations, leading to Navy Medicine’s resource sponsor shop, integration into a SYSCOM and the first purpose built medical ships.
Her next assignment was as the Deputy Surgeon for Pacific Fleet. During her time at Pacific Fleet she spearheaded the first Navy Medicine UONS, establishing the response to the global pandemic but also laying the foundation for the Fleet response to DMO. She also acted as the chief of plans for medical delineating deliberated medical requirements for the Naval Force in the INDOPACOM OPLAN.
She then served as the Assistant Deputy Chief for Operational Requirements and Capabilities as well as the Surgeon General’s lead for the Naval Medical Enterprise reorganization to operational medicine. In this role she restructured the Force Design of Navy Medicine including organizational structure, budgeting, programming, development and establishment of units, training, recruitment, retention and overall execution of medical capabilities for the Fleet and Fleet Marine Corps. She then went on to author the one-year execution strategy and five-year plan for Navy Medicine as well as the Navy Medicine Enterprise Charter.
CAPT Dagher then served as Executive Officer at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of care to the operational force and the beneficiaries they serve. In May 2025, she assumed her new role as Executive Officer for Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune and Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune.
Her decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other personal, service, unit and campaign awards.
Command Master Chief
CMDCM Katie P. Coleman
United States Navy
Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune
Master Chief Coleman is a native of Marysville, California. She enlisted in the United States Navy March 11th, 1997. After attending Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, she attended Hospital Corpsman A school, Great Lakes, Illinois before transferring to her first duty station at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia.
She successfully completed three operational tours onboard USS McFaul (DDG 74), 2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG), Camp Lejeune, NC and USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). In 2003 she deployed onboard USS Boxer as a part of Casualty Receiving Treatment Ship(CRTS) platform for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While stationed with 2nd MLG, she completed two tours to Iraq in support of OIF, one in 2005 as the CLR 27 IDC for H&S BN Fwd in Camp Al Taqaddum and one in 2007 with 1st BN 12th Marines as Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC) for two Coalition Forward Operating Bases. She was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in September 2007. In February 2008, she deployed with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting the Global War on Terrorism, NATO Forces, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation AZADA WOZA in Afghanistan AO.
Master Chief Coleman’s other duty stations include Naval Medical Center San Diego, Naval School Health Science Surface Force IDC School, Assault Craft Unit Four, and Command Naval Surface Forces Pacific Fleet where she was promoted to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. In October 2016, HMCM transferred to Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, Patuxent River, MD where she served as the Command Master Chief. She was selected into the Command Master Chief program in March 2018. Follow on Command Master Chief assignments include pre-commissioned units USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron FOUR ZERO (VRM-40), and Naval Leadership and Ethics Command Dam Neck. In November 2025, she reported to Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command Camp Lejeune where she currently serves.
Master Chief Coleman is a graduate of U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class 193, Orange Group and the CMC/COB Course Class 120. Her personal decorations include Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), Sea Service Ribbon (six awards), Air Force Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.