Captain Richard Gilliard, Jr.
Director, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa
Commanding Officer, U.S. Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command Okinawa
Captain Richard Gilliard Jr. is a native of Gary, Indiana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Yeoman and subsequently volunteered for Submarine Duty and completed Basic Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. Captain Gilliard earned a B.S. degree in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. He received a commission through the Medical Service Corps In-service Procurement Program in December 1999. Captain Gilliard also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Operationally, Captain Gilliard served onboard the USS GROTON (SSN 694) in Groton, Connecticut and USS RHODE ISLAND (SSBN 740)(BLUE) in Kings Bay, GA. He also served in the following staff positions; administrative assistant, Naval Reactors Headquarters, Washington, DC; Washington placement detailer for Shore Special Programs, Naval Personnel Command, Millington, TN; interim director for administration, Naval Medicine Information Management Center (NMIMC), Bethesda, Maryland; Medical Service Corps/Dental Corps officer community manager, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Millington, TN; and Branch Head, Medical Manpower and Resources (N0931C) at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
His healthcare leadership assignments include clinic manager/division officer of Primary Care Services and special assistant to the Commanding Officer at U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain. Captain Gilliard as selected for three milestone tours serving as director for administration at Naval Health Clinic Charleston, Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/Naval Hospital Jacksonville, and Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/Naval Medical Center San Diego.
In July 2023, Captain Gilliard assumed duties as the Director of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and Executive Officer of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command/U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan comprised of the hospital and six Branch Health Clinics across four different countries. He led a team of 1,300 military, contract, civilian, and host nation master labor contractors in support of 7th Fleet, III MEF and forward deployed Naval Forces in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. Captain Gilliard is now the Commanding Officer for, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness & Training Command, Okinawa, Japan, and Director, U.S Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan.
His personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards). Captain Gilliard completed Joint Military Professional Education (JPME) Phase 1 from Naval War College Monterey. He is an alumnus of the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and earned the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
Captain Julia A. Savitz
Deputy Director, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa
Executive Officer, U.S. Navy Medicine and Readiness Training Command Okinawa
Captain Julia Savitz is originally from Lakewood, WA, and she started her Navy Service in 2003 when she enrolled in medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. She graduated in 2007 and matched into Internal Medicine, completing her residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD in 2010. She then served a two-year tour as a staff internist at Naval Hospital Lemoore, where she was the Chair of Infection Control. She then matched into the competitive Allergy/Immunology fellowship program at Walter Reed, where she was elected by her peers to represent the Allergy Program as part of the Housestaff Council. Following fellowship, Captain Savitz was assigned to Naval Hospital Pensacola as an allergist.
At Naval Hospital Pensacola, she was selected to serve in numerous leadership positions to include Department Head for Medicine Specialty Clinics, Senior Medical Officer for Internal Medicine and Medicine Specialty Clinics, and Associate Director of Healthcare Business, after which she was selected as the Director of Healthcare Business, leading several transformative projects to include the transition of the hospital from an inpatient facility to an ambulatory surgery center, the 703 Working Group, and network partnership expansion to ensure critical skills sustainment for staff. In 2019 Captain Savitz was selected for a milestone position, and she reported to Naval Hospital Beaufort as their first billeted Chief Medical Officer. As Chief Medical Officer, she spearheaded multiple high reliability initiatives to include visual management boards, expansion of process improvement training, Emergency Medical Services quality and oversight, and she chaired multiple committees to include the hospital’s Quality Council and the COVID Working Group. From 2020-2021 Captain Savitz served as the chair of the tri-service Military Allergy-Immunology Assembly, leading the assembly’s first virtual meeting and ensuring continuing allergy education across all the services. In 2022, Captain Savitz reported to Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan where she served as the Regimental Surgeon for 12
th Marine Littoral Regiment. During this time, she was elected to serve as the Medical Executive Chair for III Marine Expeditionary Force, where she oversaw the quality and credentialing of over 200 forward deployed providers. In May 2024 Captain Savitz was selected as the Navy’s Allergy lead, providing expertise and guidance to Navy Medicine and the Defense Health Agency for Allergy policy and waivers. In August 2024 she reported to Naval Hospital Okinawa as their Chief Medical Officer where she heads the hospital’s high reliability programs and oversees the delivery of safe, effective patient care for an enrolled population of 36K.
Captain Savitz spends her free time with her family; husband Trey (a Public Affairs Specialist with the Navy), children Marielle (15), Millianne (13), son Josh (29), and two highly allergenic cats.
Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
CMDCM (AW/SW) Derek G. Nelson
Command Master Chief
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
A native of Bullhead City, Arizona and a graduate of Mohave High, Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Derek G. Nelson entered the Navy through Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes in October 2003. Upon completion of Basic Training, he was assigned to Basic Airman Apprenticeship School in Pensacola FL.
Nelson’s duty assignments include Patrol Squadron One (VP-1), where he converted to the rate of Aviation Maintenance Administration; NRS Las Vegas Southwest Recruiter in Charge at Navy Recruiting District San Diego, CA, where he converted to the rate of Navy Career Counselor (CRF); Division Five Leading Chief Petty Officer at Navy Recruiting District Phoenix, Arizona, where he selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2011; Senior Enlisted Leader at Navy Recruiting District Philadelphia where he was selected for Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2016; and Assistant Chief Recruiter at Navy Recruiting District Los Angeles. He was selected into the Command Senior Chief Program in 2021 and reported to USS JACKSON (LCS 6) GOLD. During that tour he completed back to back 7th and 3rd Fleet deployments. His second CMC tour he was assigned as the CMC at Fleet Logistics Multi Mission Squadron Three Zero (VRM-30) from 2023 to 2025. He is currently assigned as the Command Master Chief of Naval Hospital Okinawa.
He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (201 Red) and CMC/COB course 180. Major Command CMC Course #25090. He earned an Associates of Science Degree in Professional Studies, a Bachelors Degree of Science in Leadership, and a Master’s Degree of Science in Human Resource Management from Trident University.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Navy Expert Rifleman Medal, Navy Expert Pistol Medal and various campaign and unit awards.