Rear Adm. Michael H. Anderson, MC, USN, is a native of southern California.  He received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. After being commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy, he earned a Doctor of Medicine in May 1983 from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

He returned to California to complete a family practice internship at the Naval Regional Medical Center, Camp Pendleton. Subsequently, he was assigned to the First Force Service Support Group as a general medical officer and later deployed to the Western Pacific with the newly formed Eleventh Marine Amphibious Unit. Upon returning to the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Anderson completed Family Practice specialty training in September 1987 as the chief resident. His first assignment as a family physician was to the medically remote Naval Communication Station, Harold E. Holt located in Exmouth, Western Australia.

Anderson returned to the United Sates in October 1990 as part of the initial faculty with the newly established Puget Sound Family Medicine Residency. While assigned to Naval Hospital Bremerton, Wash., he deployed with the Bravo Surgical Company, Second Medical Battalion to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of the Haitian migrant relief effort in November 1991. By June 1995, he accepted a three-year assignment as the director of Clinical Services at U.S. Naval Hospital Keflavik, Iceland, where he prepared the medical staff for their first Joint Commission survey. Returning again to Naval Hospital Bremerton in 1998, he subsequently served as the director of Medical Services until he became the executive officer of Naval Hospital Cherry Point in August 2000.

Moving to the Midwest, Anderson assumed command of the Naval Hospital Great Lakes in May 2003, where he completed the requirements for a Master's in Health Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. By August 2006, he had championed a transformational relationship with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs that established a new form of joint healthcare delivery within the federal government. Anderson reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in September 2006 as the deputy medical officer to the Marine Corps where he established new clinical standards for garrison healthcare within the operational forces.

Upon his August 2008 departure, he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in preparation for a two-year assignment as the U.S. Pacific Command Surgeon located at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Named the Navy Medical Inspector General in October 2010, Anderson assumed his final duties as medical officer to the Marine Corps in February 2011, and retired in 2013.

Anderson’s personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Last Updated: 1 April 2022