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 James G. Demitrack
Executive Officer
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Captain Demitrack was born in Jamaica, N.Y. and grew up on Long Island. He graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 and was accepted for immediate training as a medical officer. He graduated from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2004 with an M.D. and completed a pediatric internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in 2005.
From 2005-2008, he served as a General Medical Officer with 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, participating in exercises in the Republic of Korea and mainland Japan. He then returned to Portsmouth to complete his residency. He graduated from residency and achieved board certification in Pediatrics in 2010.
From 2010-2013, he served as a Staff Pediatrician at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. Despite demanding clinical responsibilities in an isolated location, he filled multiple leadership roles, including Medical Director of the Mother-Baby Unit and Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Infection Prevention and Control Committees. His efforts led directly to a DOD Patient Safety Award for the command.
From 2013-2015, he served as teaching faculty at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His duties included Medical Director for the Exceptional Family Member Program, rotation director for the Community Pediatrics rotation, Medical Home team leader, and acting Chief of Primary Care Pediatrics.
From 2015-2018, he served as Department Head of Pediatrics at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa. In this capacity, he led the largest overseas Pediatric department in the Navy and maintained its recognition as a Level III Medical Homeport. He also served as Chair of the Disease Management Committee.
From 2018-2021, he served as Chief Medical Officer of Naval Hospital Pensacola. He was responsible for all patient safety, clinical quality, and process improvement programs for the main facility and ten branch clinics. He led the facility’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitated process improvement projects that earned three High Reliability Organization awards.
From 2021-2024, Captain Demitrack served as the Officer-In-Charge of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Iwakuni, Japan. He led a diverse team of over 200 staff and was responsible for public health and outpatient care for 10,000 base residents, the readiness of 12 forward-deployed aviation squadrons, and the safe operation of a Labor and Delivery unit.
Captain Demitrack is currently serving as the Executive Officer of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Okinawa, Japan. His personal awards are Meritorious Service Medal with one star, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 stars, and Joint Achievement Medal. Captain Demitrack is married to the former Yuki Maekawa of Okinawa, Japan. They have two daughters (Emily and Elena) and a son (Daniel).
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.