A native of Long Beach, New York, Rear Adm. Mittelman earned a Bachelor of Arts from Jacksonville University in 1975. He was awarded his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in May 1980, and earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1990. He graduated from the Naval War College non-resident program in 1991. In 2009, Mittelman was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Salus University and, in 2010, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Southern College of Optometry.

Mittelman was commissioned in the Navy Medical Service Corps in 1980. His first clinical assignment was at Naval Hospital Cherry Point, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from July 1980 to September 1984, serving as a staff optometrist and later as head of the Optometry Department. From September 1984 to August 1987 Mittelman served as head, Optometry Department, U.S. Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain.  Mittelman then transferred to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Florida, where he served as head, Optometry Department and became the first optometrist designated as an Aerospace Optometrist in 1989. In 1993, Mittelman assumed the duties of deputy director of Research at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Pensacola. He then reported to Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Ill., in October 1995 where he held the position of head, Recruit Medicine Department and also served as the commanding officer of Fleet Hospital Three. 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 this assignment, Mittelman served as the executive assistant to the Surgeon General of the Navy until August 2004 after which he was assigned as a special assistant to the Surgeon General at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.  

He then served as the deputy chief of staff, Human Resources, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery through September 2008. Mittelman served as the director, Medical Resources, Plans and Policy Division (N931) Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from August 2007 to September 2008 and served as the 15th director of the Medical Service Corps from August 2006 to October 2009. Mittelman then served as the command surgeon U.S. Joint Forces Command and medical advisor to the Commander, Supreme Allied Command for Transformation (NATO) from November 2009 to August 2010. Mittelman served as the Command Surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command. In November 2011, Mittelman reported as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy and Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Mittelman is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry. He also is a 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 recipient of their Orion Award.

Mittelman’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit Medal (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (five awards), and the Navy Expert Pistol ribbon.

Last Updated: 3 February 2022