Former U.S. Seventh Fleet Surgeon Capt. Joel Roos will assume command Aug. 30 of Naval Medical Center San Diego, relieving Capt. José Acosta, who will become lead medical officer of the locally based U.S. Third Fleet, the military announced.
Acosta led NMCSD through operational and medical milestones that improved medical readiness and enhanced the patient experience for the 125,000 beneficiaries enrolled to the hospital, according to a news release from the medical center.
The Virginia native called the transition “truly a bitter-sweet moment,” saying in the release he leaves behind “an amazing organization” even as he looks forward to tending to the health and well-being of the Third Fleet, which encompasses sailors and marines aboard ships, submarines and aircraft stationed in California, Washington and Hawaii.
Roos, an emergency physician by trade, is the 43rd naval officer to lead NMCSD. He previously served at the medical center in 2009 as deputy commander.
A Cincinnati native, Roos was responsible for operational medical planning and execution at the Seventh Fleet, where he was also in charge of theater security cooperation engagements throughout the Western Pacific Ocean.
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