CAPTAIN Lee L. Cornforth
Medical Service Corps
United States Navy
Captain Lee L. Cornforth hails from the beautiful Willamette Valley
in Oregon where he grew up in the Albany area. He graduated
from Oregon State University
in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. He earned a Doctor of
Optometry degree with distinction from Pacific University College of Optometry,
Forest Grove Oregon in 1986 and a Master of Business
Administration degree with honors and emphasis in Health Services Management
from Webster University of St. Louis Missouri in 1996.
Upon graduation from optometry school, Captain
Cornforth was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Naval
Reserve. After graduation from Officer
Indoctrination School
at Newport Rhode Island
in July 1986, he reported to the Naval
Hospital, Naval Air Station Oak Harbor Washington
as a staff optometrist and Head of the Optometry Department. From September
1990 Captain Cornforth served as Head, Optometry Division, U.S. Naval Hospital
Guam then transferred in August 1992 to the Naval
Medical Center,
San Diego California.
There he served as Assistant Head, Optometry Department, and Head, Optometry
Division, Naval Air Station
North Island.
In August 1993, he was appointed head of the Branch
Medical Clinic at the Naval Training Center,
San Diego, California. In 1996, Captain Cornforth
became the first Navy member of the Tri-Service Vision Conservation and
Readiness Program at the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive
Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland
where he also served as Program Manager of the Defense Vision Information
System. In October 1999, Captain Cornforth reported to the Naval Ophthalmic
Support and Training Activity, Yorktown, Virginia initially as Director for Administration and
Resources then as Executive Officer while also serving as Director, Optician
Technician Degree Program at Thomas
Nelson Community
College.
In October 2003, Captain Cornforth transferred to the
Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton California where he served as Head of the
Optometry Department, Executive Director of Branch Clinics, Executive Director
of Support Services and two months as Acting Executive Officer. In
October 2005, he deployed for 11 months to the Expeditionary Medical Facility
Kuwait as Director for Administration. In November 2006, Captain
Cornforth transferred to the Navy Medicine Manpower, Personnel, Training and
Education Command in Bethesda
Maryland where he heads
Expeditionary Programs.
Captain Cornforth represents more than 800 Federal
Service Optometrists as President of the Armed Forces Optometric Society.
He is a member of the American Optometric Association, Washington Association
of Optometric Physicians, and is a Fellow of the American Academy
of Optometry. He is licensed to practice optometry in Oregon
and Washington.
Captain Cornforth's personal awards and decorations include the
Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
Medal (two awards), Navy Achievement Medal (four awards), Global War on
Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Meritorious Outstanding Volunteer
Service Medal, Navy Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon, and the Expert Pistol Shot
Medal. He was also named Navy Optometrist of the Year in February 2002.
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