LEONARDTOWN, Md. – MedStar Health announced the appointment of Captain (Ret.) Jeremy J. Hawker, MSN, RN, NC, USN, as vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.
Hawker officially joined the hospital on Nov. 3, bringing more than 30 years of leadership and clinical experience from his distinguished career in the United States Navy Nurse Corps.
Most recently, Hawker served as commanding officer and director of the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command and Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, where he oversaw healthcare delivery for approximately 12,000 beneficiaries and 90 tenant commands across Southern Maryland.
During his military service, Hawker held several key leadership roles, including chief nursing officer at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, executive officer at the Naval Medical Readiness and Training Command Great Lakes/Lovell Federal Health Care Center, and associate director for Surgical Services at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Hawker’s work to improve patient safety, support the nursing team, and streamline operations has been recognized at the national level. Among his honors are the Senior Military Nursing Leadership Excellence Award from the Military Health System and the Outstanding Student Award from the Military Officers Association of America.
“It’s a privilege to welcome Captain Hawker to our team,” said Mimi Novello, MD, MBA, FACEP, president of MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and senior vice president of MedStar Health. “He brings in-depth leadership experience and a genuine commitment to service that will strengthen our nursing programs and the care we provide every day.”
A Minnesota native, Hawker earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University and his Master of Science in Nursing (Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist) from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda.
After retiring from the Navy, he and his family chose to make St. Mary’s County their home, increasing his connection to the community he now serves as part of the MedStar St. Mary’s leadership team.
“Service has always been at the heart of my career,” Hawker said. “I’m honored to join MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and to support a team so dedicated to caring for this community.”