Command Surgeon
Rear Adm. Michael H. Mittelman,
Medical Corps, United States Navy
Allied Command Transformation/U.S. Joint Forces Command
Fleet Forces Command

Rear Adm. Mittelman oversees the mission of leading the medical transformation of the armed forces of the United States and the NATO nations in his role as U.S. Joint Forces Command surgeon (J02M). His directorate, J02M, provides advice on force health protection in the command's joint force provider role as well as overseeing various medical plans and policies that support the commander's initiatives.

Mittelman began his career in 1980 as a staff optometrist and later as head of the optometry department at Naval Hospital Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Following a tour in Rota, Spain, Mittelman transferred to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Fla., where he served as head of the Optometry Department and became the first optometrist designated as an aerospace optometrist in 1989.

In October 1995, he reported to Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Ill., where he served as the commanding officer of Fleet Hospital 3.

In July 1997, Mittelman assumed command of the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity, Yorktown, Va. While there, he facilitated the establishment of the Department of Defense Optical Fabrication Enterprise. In July 2000, Mittelman assumed command of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan.

Following his return home, Mittelman served as the executive assistant to the Surgeon General of the Navy, later becoming special assistant to the Surgeon General at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington. He then served as the deputy chief of staff, Human Resources, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Prior to his current assignment, Mittelman served as the director, Medical Resources, Plans and Policy Division (N931) Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

As a civilian Mittelman is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a diplomat of the American Academy of Optometry. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association and associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association. He is past president of the Armed Forces Optometric Society and a member of the National Academies of Practice.

Mittelman's awards and decorations include awards of the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal as well as numerous other unit and personal awards.