The MSC named Lt. Cmdr. Hunter R. Coates, regional information systems officer, NMFP, as the Information Technology Senior Officer of the Year for 2021.

“Lt. Cmdr. Coates has a proven record of superior leadership, demonstrated performance excellence and the innate ability to navigate this complex organization to ensure mission success,” said Rear Adm. Timothy Weber, Commander, NMFP. “His talent is felt enterprise wide, and his contributions have positively impacted the Fleet and the Fleet Marine Force.”

The purpose of this award is to recognize MSC Officers whose leadership, professional knowledge and administrative/clinical/research expertise who have significantly contributed to enhancing warfighter performance, operational capabilities, readiness and Navy Medicine, according to submission guidelines.

Coates’ work impacted healthcare delivery to about 650,000 beneficiaries and the readiness missions for 18,000 Navy-Medicine staff members supported by NMFP.

Among his accomplishments, he spearheaded the development and standardization of the process to extend the medical network for line commands. This required collaboration that spanned across the entire DHA organization and established a repeatable process that will be used Tri-Service wide.

He also managed the considerable undertaking of implementing the IT structure for the new electronic health record, MHS GENESIS, at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands (NMRTC) Hawaii, San Diego and Camp Pendleton, as well as surveyed the IT prerequisites at USNMRTCs Guam, Yokosuka and Okinawa, which positions these sites for a successful rollout of MHS GENESIS.

“Lt. Cmdr. Coates has a proven record of superior leadership, demonstrated performance excellence and an innate ability to ensure mission success. This award is well deserved and we are fortunate to have him as part of the Navy Medicine family,” remarked Mr. Jerry Brown III, Deputy Chief of Staff M4/6, and NMFP.