Navy Medicine East

• Establishment: Navy Medicine East (NME) was officially established in 2005 as part of a major reorganization to streamline and regionalize Navy medical commands. • Headquarters: NME’s headquarters was located at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, which is the oldest continuously operating hospital in the Navy, founded in 1827. • Geographic Reach: At its peak, NME oversaw more than 20 medical facilities stretching from the Mississippi River to the East Coast, including overseas commands in Europe. • Humanitarian Aid: NME units played critical roles in disaster response, such as deploying medical teams during Hurricane Katrina (2005) and supporting humanitarian missions in the Caribbean and Africa. • Support for the Fleet: NME provided medical, dental, and preventive care not only to sailors and Marines but also to their families and retirees. • Training and Research: Many NME facilities, including Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, have been at the forefront of medical research and training for Navy medical personnel. • Global War on Terror: NME personnel supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, deploying medical teams and resources to combat zones and hospital ships. • Integration: In 2019, Navy Medicine East was disestablished as part of the transition of medical facilities to the Defense Health Agency, marking the end of its independent command. • Women in Leadership: NME saw historic milestones with women serving as commanding officers and senior medical leaders, reflecting broader changes in military medicine. • COVID-19 Response: Before its disestablishment, NME facilities played a role in early COVID-19 response efforts, including testing, treatment, and supporting fleet readiness.