Commander Penny Walter

United States Navy

Executive Officer

Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity

A native of Livonia, Michigan, Commander Penny Walter earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Ferris State College of Optometry in 1989. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1989, Dr.Walter served her first tour as a staff optometrist at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland from November 1989 to October 1992. In November 1992, she reported to U.S. Naval Hospital, Sigonella, Italy and stood up its first permanent, full scope Optometry Department. Returning stateside in 1994, she served as the Optometrist for Arlington Annex, Arlington, Virginia. In November 1997, after earning the Aviation Optometry AQD, Commander Walter reported for duty at U. S. Naval Hospital, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as the Director for Ancillary Services and sole optometrist. After 3 years overseas, she returned stateside to Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Illinois, serving the first half of her tour as Department Head of Optometry, overseeing 3 clinics and an optical fabrication lab. The latter half of her tour at Great Lakes she was Department Head, USS Red Rover, Recruit Medical Inprocessing Clinic. Commander Walter reported to her current position as Executive Officer, Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity in April 2003.

Commander Walter’s personal awards include the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (with one gold star) and the Navy Achievement Medal. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, a Council Member of the Armed Forces Optometric Society, and a member of both the American Optometric Association and the American College of Healthcare Administrators.

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