Captain Kathleen K. Cooperman
Commanding Officer
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Captain Cooperman is a native of Arlington, Virginia. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she graduated in 2000 with a Master of Health Administration. Upon graduation, she commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps.
Cooperman’s first assignment was to the Naval Medical Center, San Diego where she served as the Resource Sharing Program Manager. In 2002, Cooperman reported to U.S. Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain where she served as Command Operations Management Officer. While in Rota, she participated in the first Navy-led medical and dental humanitarian mission (MEDFLAG) in Errachidia, Morocco. In 2004, she was selected for Duty Under Instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California where she completed a Master of Science Management in Manpower Systems Analysis and the Navy War College’s Joint Professional Military Education Phase I.
In 2008, Captain Cooperman reported to the National Capital Region where she completed three tours from 2008-2015; she served as BUMED Manpower Analyst M12, Special Assistant for Health Affairs, Military Manpower & Personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), and Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chief, Bureau of Medicine & Surgery. During this time, she was highly involved in shaping Navy Medicine’s medical manpower shore-based operational requirements and served as Service lead in the establishment of the Defense Health Agency.
In 2015, she was selected for a milestone assignment as Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Admiral Joel T. Boone Branch Health Clinic located in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. In 2018, her broad range of manpower experience led to her selection as Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel (M1), Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, Portsmouth, Virginia providing support to 21 commands and assisting in the provision of Forces during the Nation’s war on COVID-19.
Captain Cooperman reported as Executive Officer, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command, Naples, Italy in 2021. She led the forward staged medical team to deliver superior healthcare services, training, and support to 15K Operational Forces assigned to 37 Operational Units and the eligible civilian population aligned to U.S. Sixth Fleet and NAVEURAFCENT area of responsibility. It is her absolute honor and privilege to be selected as Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command, Okinawa, Japan; and, Director, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan the role in which she is currently serving.
Captain Cooperman is board certified in healthcare management and is a former Federal Sector Regent-At-Large for Diversity and Inclusion, American College of Healthcare Executives. Honors include the Senior Level Healthcare Excellence Regent’s Award 2015, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral J. M. Boorda Award for Outstanding Integration of Analysis, Meritorious Service Medal (six), Navy Commendation Medal (two), and Navy and the Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two). She is married to Douglas Cooperman, and they have two adult daughters, Erika and Lara.
Captain Leah Y. Geislinger
Executive Officer
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Captain Leah Y. Geislinger was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended the University of Wisconsin La Crosse and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology in 1998. Upon graduation she entered the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health, Saint Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota earning a Master’s of Arts degree in Occupational Therapy. She was selected for the Health Services Collegiate Program in 1999 and commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in June 2001.
Following Officer Indoctrination School, she was assigned to her first duty station, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, followed by tours at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Career highlights include: being the first Navy Occupational Therapist (OT) to be by-name selected to deploy and serve as the Director for Administration for Pacific Partnership 2009. In 2010, Captain Geislinger was selected as the first Navy Occupational Therapy Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) Doctoral Candidate; completing her degree in December 2012. She possesses a vast array of clinical expertise ranging from direct clinical care to performance-based National Quality healthcare metrics, population health and disease management. She was competitively selected for several leadership positions including Director of Clinical Support Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego, Specialty Leader for Navy Medicine Occupational Therapy, and most recently, Program Director, Recovery Coordination Policy at Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), OUSD-HA Health Services Policy and Oversight.
Captain Geislinger assumed duty as Executive Officer (XO) of Naval Hospital Okinawa 18 May 2022. CAPT Geislinger’s awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (6) and one Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
CMDCM (SW) Thomas L. Perkins Jr.
Command Master Chief
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Master Chief Petty Officer Perkins is a native of Gastonia, NC, and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1985. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, he reported to NTTC Meridian, where he completed Aviation Storekeeper (AK) “A” school. Upon graduation, he reported for duty onboard PCU THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) and was part of the commissioning crew, advancing to Petty Officer Third Class. He was honorably discharged in 1988.
In May 1994, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves as a Petty Officer Third Class Storekeeper (SK) with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB 24). During this time, he advanced to Petty Officer Second Class.
In March 2001, he reenlisted to Navy Active Duty. His first assignment back to the fleet was onboard USS STUMP (DD 978) and was part of the decommissioning crew in October 2004, advancing to Petty Officer First Class. He reported to NTTC Lackland in October 2004 and completed Master at Arms (MA) “A” school.
After completing MA “A” school, he completed two tours in Japan, NAF Misawa and CFA Okinawa, and advanced to Chief Petty Officer. He then reported to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and was assigned to the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, advancing to Senior Chief Petty Officer. He served as the Security Department Head, Naval Support Activity Lakehurst, NJ and Navy Liaison to the USAF 87th Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. He was selected for Command Senior Chief in February 2016.
In May 2017, he reported to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two for training. He advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer in August 2017 and served as Command Master Chief on USS SIOUX CITY (LCS 11) Gold Crew from January 2018 to January 2020. In January 2020, Master Chief Perkins reported to USS MASON DDG 87 where he served until July 2022. He reported to NMRTC Okinawa July 2022 where he serves as Command Master Chief.
CMC Perkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Trident University and is a graduate of U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class 190, Gray Group and the CMC/COB course. His personal commendations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and various unit and campaign awards.