Command Leadership

Captain Thomas Piner
Commanding Officer
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan

Captain (CAPT) Thomas J. Piner is a native of San Diego, California.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of San Diego, a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Masters in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School.

CAPT Piner began his career by enlisting in the U.S. Army in March of 1994. During his enlistment, he served as an Intelligence Analyst (96B) for the III Armored Corps and the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific.

After completing his degree, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Service Corps Officer and reported to Naval Hospital Lemoore, California. Over the years, his increasing levels of responsibility garnered a broad base of experience that includes Clinic Management, Radiation Health, Managed Care, Finance, Operations Research, Logistics, Patient Administration, Legal and Plans, Operations, Medical Intelligence. He was competitively selected for several leadership positions, including Director for Administration at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Director for Resource Management at Naval Hospital Lemoore and Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Specialty Leader for Navy Medicine Comptrollers. In 2019 he was selected as the Executive Officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy. He currently serves as the Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, the largest overseas hospital in the United States Navy, serving 47,000 beneficiaries.

Operationally, he served as the Medical Administration Officer/Radiation Health Officer aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and deployed in 2002 to the Persian Gulf to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, he qualified as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer. In 2010 he deployed to Task Force Medical South/NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, as the Comptroller and Logistics Officer for all Navy medical units in Southern Afghanistan.

CAPT Piner’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medals from the Joint Services, Army, and the Navy, and various service awards. He is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives and a Certified Defense Financial Manager.

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.