A first generation Vietnamese-American native of Santa Ana, California, LCDR Kevin Hoang was raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology as well as his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Missouri in Saint Louis. His clinical training carried him across a wide spectrum, including a large urban hospital, Indian
Health Service hospitals in Oklahoma and Alaska, and an Air Force clinic, leading to an interest in military medicine.
During this time, he developed a passion for humanitarian aid and increased access to care, coordinating volunteers through a vision screening for Special Olympics of Missouri and making glasses for several dozen of the athletes that same day. In addition, he was instrumental in providing care to the two outlying villages of Koyuk and Brevig Mission in the Nome Census Area of Alaska, setting up multi-day eye clinics for patients without normal access to care. Following his time in the Artic, he then pursued a humanitarian aid mission to central Jamaica, where a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, dentists, and optometrists provided care to a small town in Saint Mary’s Parish.
LT Hoang was competitively selected for a direct commission in March of 2013 and commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps; he reported to Officer Development School in Newport, Rhode Island September of 2013, serving as his class Administrative Officer. LCDR Hoang then checked aboard to the Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, serving as staff optometrist in charge of the clinical externship program.
In March of 2015, LT Hoang was deployed in support of “Continuing Promise” aboard the hospital ship USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) as the Assistant Department Head of Optometry. Over the course of six months, he personally provided care to nearly 7,000 patients across 23 medical sites in 11 different countries while overseeing nearly 20% of all patients served during the mission.
Upon returning to the Naval Health Clinic in Corpus Christi in October of 2015, LCDR Hoang resumed his responsibilities,
now as Department Head of Optometry, as well as being the sole provider of eye care services at Branch Health Clinic Kingsville and Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. He also coordinated with Army Optometry at Fort Sam Houston and the Tri-Service Research Lab, increasing joint training opportunities for continuing education among his staff.
In November of 2016, LT Hoang reported to the Naval Health Clinic Hawaii, serving as Department Head of Optometry and Legal Officer. Additionally, he led initiatives though the Hawaii enhanced Multi Service Market to cross-credential optometrists across different MTFs to increase joint interoperability. He also served as the medical liaison officer to the
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Emergency Operations Center in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In July of 2020, LCDR Hoang reported to the College of Naval Command and Staff, earning a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic studies, with courses focused on the INDOPACOM AOR and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief.
In June of 2021, LCDR Hoang reported to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Groton, serving as Director of Expeditionary Medicine as well as Department Head of Clinical Support Services, overseeing 75 staff across Optometry, Pharmacy, Lab, Radiology, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic Services, Platform Readiness, and Force Development.
In November of 2022, LCDR Hoang was selected for a milestone position and assumed the role of Officer in Charge of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Yuma in June of 2023, overseeing over 130 personnel in the execution of a $2 million operating budget while overseeing the delivery of care to beneficiaries aboard the busiest air station in the
United States Marines Corps, covering over 10,000 square miles of air and ground space.
LCDR Hoang is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and an Adjunct Professor of Optometry for five Colleges of Optometry. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Optometric Society’s Junior Optometrist of the Year
2021, Navy Medicine’s Optometry Junior Officer of the Year 2022, and Navy Medicine’s Optometry Officer of the Year 2023. He is the proud husband of Celena, a prior medic in the US Army and practicing physician assistant, father to Johnny and Alessandra, and dog-dad to Sasha.