Adm. Sean P. Barbabella is a native of southwestern Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992 and his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1996. He was commissioned as an ensign in 1992 on a Health Professions Scholarship.

After completing an Internal Medicine Internship at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in 1997, he was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen at Naval Air Station Oceana. He served as a Flight Surgeon and completed two deployments to the Persian Gulf.

In 2001, he returned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and completed his Emergency Medicine Residency, serving as Chief Resident in his senior year. After residency, he served an overseas tour as an Emergency Medicine Physician (2004-2006) at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan where he was Director of the Japanese Internship Program for the Emergency Department.

He was assigned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as Assistant Residency Director for Emergency Medicine (2006-2010). In 2007, he deployed as the Officer in Charge of the Mobile Shock Trauma Platoon at Camp Taqqadum Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, he deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with 2nd Medical Battalion, 2D Marine Expeditionary Brigade as the Officer in Charge of the Mobile Trauma Bay.

From 2010 to 2012 he served as the 2D Marine Division (Forward) Surgeon in Camp Lejeune, N.C. He deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan as the Division Surgeon (2011-2012) in support of combat operations and Afghan National Army health care development. Upon returning from Afghanistan, he was selected as the Department Head, Emergency Medicine Department at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune (2012-2015).

In 2013, The Surgeon General of Navy selected him to be the Navy Emergency Medicine Specialty Leader, leading one of the largest communities in the Medical Corps with over 250 physicians working in 15 emergency departments in the Department of Navy. While at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, he was elected to Chair the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff and President of the Medical Staff. During this tour, he was selected to serve as a voting member of the Committee of Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

He was hand selected by the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps in 2015 to be the II Marine Expeditionary Force Surgeon where he led more than 1,500 Health Services personnel and 15 clinics maximizing health care for 43,000 Sailors and Marines. In 2018, he was selected to serve overseas as the first U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa Force Surgeon in Stuttgart, Germany. He was the senior medical representative for the Marine Corps to both the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. In July 2021, he reported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune as the Executive Officer. After a successful Executive Officer tour, he was selected to be the Commanding Officer of Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point and assumed command on 31 May 2023 where he served until January 2025. He was competitively selected across all services as the Physician to the President by President Donald J. Trump. He assumed the duty of Physician to the President on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.

Admiral Barbabella is a designated Naval Flight Surgeon, Fleet Marine Force Medical Officer, and Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer. His personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (4), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Aerial Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Combat Action Ribbon, multiple campaign and unit awards. CAPT Barbabella maintains board certification with the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.

Last Updated: 8 September 2026