Eleanor Valentin, the 2010 Women of Color Technologist of the Year, made history by becoming the first woman to be promoted to the boss's seat in Navy Medicine as a rear admiral in 2009.
Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of Naval Operations, supported her nomination for a Women of Color STEM Award and praised her dedication, passion, and commitment to the health, welfare, and morale of Sailors and Marines worldwide.
In 2011, Valentin was recognized by the Filipina Women's Network as one of the "100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States," a celebration of leadership, inspiration, and achievement.
The award recognizes Filipina women who are changing the face of power in American communities, organizations, and workplaces.
Valentin is a native of Seattle and earned two bachelor's degrees in zoology and psychology at the University of Washington.
She later completed two master's degrees in public health, one in health policy and planning, and another in biostatistics at the University of Hawaii.
She was commissioned as a lieutenant junior in the Medical Service Corps in 1982 and served in various department head and administrative officer positions in San Diego, Norfolk, Va., Guam, and at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan.
From 1994 to 1997, Valentin served as director for administration at Naval Medical Clinic in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She then reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and became the branch head for TRICARE Marketing and Communications.
In 2000, Valentin became the regional Operations director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs).
There, she led staff and joint service teams in developing plans and strategies to implement statutory and policy guidance for delivering healthcare services to eligible beneficiaries.
Valentin's subsequent assignments included executive officer at Naval Hospital Corpus Christi, Texas; commanding officer at Naval Hospital/Health Clinic Cherry Point, N.C.; and chief of staff at Navy Medicine National Capital Area.
From 2009 to 2012, she served as commander of the Navy Medicine Support Command, and from 2009 through 2012, she was the first female and 16th director of the Medical Service Corps.
She retired in 2014 as the director of the Military Health System (MHS) Governance Implementation Planning Executive Secretariat.
Her decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Valentin is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Academy of Healthcare Management.
