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New commandant sets anchor at the Medical Education & Training Campus

  • Published
  • By Lisa Braun
  • Medical Education and Training Campus Public Affairs
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas --  Navy Rear Adm. William M. Roberts became the second commandant of the Medical Education & Training Campus (METC) during an Assumption of Commandant ceremony September 7.

Among the distinguished guests were Roberts' wife, Patricia, inaugural METC commandant, retired Rear Adm. Bob Kiser and his wife, Geraldine, and Navy Cross recipient, retired Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Don Mason and his wife, Sharon.

In his remarks Roberts recognized Army Col. Gino Montagno, METC's deputy commandant, for his dedicated and devoted leadership while serving as interim commandant during the past three months. He then paid homage to Kiser for his accomplishments as the first commandant.

"What you were able to accomplish with your team as the METC commandant plankowner was and truly is remarkable," said Roberts. "I am both proud and humbled to have been selected to follow you as the next flag or general officer in succession, and will do my very best to make you proud as well."

Roberts pointed out that his potential success would be "a result of the amazing energy, innovation and dedication of our multifaceted METC team."

He told the METC staff and faculty, "I am here for you, I am dedicated to your quality of service, I encourage your innovation and your bright ideas, and I eagerly await the opportunity to partner with you, hear from you, and be motivated by you."

Roberts arrived from his previous assignment as fleet surgeon for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. A native of Washington, D.C., Roberts was raised in Europe while his father served as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service. He earned his bachelor of arts (cum laude) from Princeton University in 1975, and completed his doctor of medicine in 1979 at George Washington University where he was class president for both his junior and senior years. He completed medical school through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Roberts was commissioned a lieutenant in the Navy Medical Corps in May 1979 and completed his surgical internship at the Naval Regional Medical Center, San Diego. Subsequent assignments included senior medical officer aboard USS New Orleans (LPH 11) and USS Durham (LKA 114), and senior medical officer at Naval Station San Diego and clinic director at both Naval Training Center and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. He matriculated into the University of Chicago Emergency Medicine residency, serving as chief resident during his last year of training.

Upon completion of the residency in 1988, Roberts' other assignments included staff and faculty emergency physician at Naval Medical Center San Diego; chief of the medical staff and director of medical services at U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam; assistant chairman, Emergency Medicine Ambulatory Care Department at Naval Medical Center San Diego and became chairman one year later; specialty leader for Emergency Medicine and commanding officer, Medical Treatment Facility, aboard USNS Mercy (T-AH 19); deputy commander, Naval Medical Center San Diego, with additional duty as assistant chief of staff for medical, reporting to commander, Navy Region Southwest; force surgeon for commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Coronado, Calif.; commanding officer, Naval Hospital Bremerton, Wash.; deputy director, Medical Resources, Plans and Policy Division (OPNAV N931).

Roberts was promoted to admiral and assigned as medical officer of the Marine Corps from July 2007 to September 2008. He also served as director, OPNAV N931, at the Pentagon, as well as chief of the Navy Medical Corps.

Roberts' personal awards include the Legion of Merit (5), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Edinburgh, Scotland, in November 1999. In 2008, he was named a "Hero of Emergency Medicine" on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and, also in 2008, he was selected for the "Excellence in Emergency Medicine" Award by the military chapter of ACEP.