Leadership

Virginia H. Damin
Captain, Nurse Corps,
United States Navy

Captain Virginia (Gini) Damin graduated from Purdue University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and commissioned as an Ensign through the Reserve Officer Training Corps.

CAPT Damin reported to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (NHCP) and worked as a staff nurse. One year into her initial tour, she deployed to Al Taqaddum, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) where she served as an En Route Care/trauma nurse. In July 2006, CAPT Damin transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego where she deployed for a second tour in support of OIF, and subsequently found her niche as a critical care nurse. In 2010, CAPT Damin transferred to Norfolk, VA, where she served as critical care nurse, Fleet Surgical Team II (FST 2). During this tour, she deployed aboard the USS Iwo Jima and participated in pre-deployment exercises aboard the USS Kearsarge.

In May 2012, she transferred back to NHCP and served as Department Head, Multi-Service Ward, and Intensive Care Unit. In 2015, CAPT Damin earned a Master of Healthcare Administration and was selected for full time out-service Duty Under Instruction.

CAPT Damin graduated from ODU in May 2017 with a second master’s degree and earned the Education and Training Master Specialist designator. She reported to NHCP for a third tour and served as the head of Staff Education and Training and then as Associate Director for Nursing Services. In May 2020, CAPT Damin reported as the Officer in Charge, Navy Medicine Operational Training Command Detachment, Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute. She then served as Executive Officer, U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Guam. CAPT Damin assumed command of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Pendleton and the duties of director, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, on July 11, 2025.

CAPT Damin maintains professional certification and clinical expertise as a Certified Critical Care Nurse. Additional qualifications include Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer and Surface Warfare Medical Department Qualified Officer. Personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards).

R. Christopher Call
Captain, Medical Corps,
United States Navy

Captain Christopher Call was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Officer in 2009 under the Health Professions Scholarship Program. He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Brigham Young University (2005) and Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Washington (2009). He completed both a Transitional Internship (2010) and Anesthesiology Residency (2016) at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth prior to his Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Duke University (2019).

Previous military assignments include: Flight Surgeon, Okinawa, Japan; Chief Resident and House Staff Executive Committee Chair, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; Deputy Surgical Quality Officer, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC); COVID Response Officer, Erbil, Iraq; Service Chief, WRNMMC; Deputy Director of Surgery, WRNMMC; and Chief Medical Officer, US Naval Hospital Guam. He has deployed in support of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (2011), on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (2012), aboard the USNS Comfort (2015), and to Erbil, Iraq, for Operation Inherent Resolve (2021).

CAPT Call holds board-certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology and National Board of Echocardiography. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Clinical Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and has published on patient safety and quality of care topics.

His personal military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with gold star), Army Commendation Medal (with combat device), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal (with combat device). He is a qualified Flight Surgeon, Surface Warfare Medical Officer, and Fleet Marine Force Medical Officer.

Mario L. Lyons 
Master Chief Petty Officer (FMF/SW)
United States Navy

Master Chief Lyons is a native of California. He joined the United States Navy on 17 November 1997 and graduated basic training from Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California. Upon completion of Hospital Corpsman “A” school on board Great Lakes, Illinois, he was designated as a Hospital Corpsman.  His first duty assignment was on board USS Red Rover, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois until 1999.  His follow-on duty assignment was with USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Everett, Washington.  He would take part in multiple deployments including the longest Carrier deployment at the time of completion.

Master Chief Lyons next tour of duty was with 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division Detachment Naval Hospital San Diego until 2008.  Upon detachment he reported to 3rd Marine Air Wing where he served as LPO and acting LCPO for MAG 11.

His next duty assignment was onboard Basic Medical Technician Corpsman School, Joint Base San Antonio in March 2011, where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officers. He served as Team Lead and earned his Master Training Specialist qualification.  In 2014, upon completion of his tour, he was assigned as Senior Enlisted Leader, Alpha Company, 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistic Group. He would later deploy as the Navy Senior Enlisted Advisor, Logistic Element, Special Marine Air Ground Task Force 17.2.    

In 2017 he reported to Naval Medical Center San Diego where he served as Senior Enlisted Leader for multiple Directorates.  In 2018 he was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and in 2020 he deployed as Command Senior Enlisted Advisor Naval Hospital detachment in support of COVID-19 Defense Support of Civil Authorities humanitarian mission. In October 2020 he reported to duty as the Navy Senior Enlisted Leader for 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. In 2021 he was assigned as the Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor and the Senior Enlisted Leader for 1st Marine Division Surgeons Office.  In 2022, he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer and selected to assume the duties as the first Command Master Chief of Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Alpha, Camp Pendleton Ca. Upon completion of his tour, he was assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Camp Pendleton, California where he currently serves as the interim Command Master Chief.

Master Chief Lyons is a graduate of Command Master Chief /Chief of the Boat school Class 21130 and Senior Enlisted Academy Class 214.  His awards include Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards) along with multiple unit and campaign awards.  Additionally, he has deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve and COVID-19 Defense Support of Civil Authorities Mission.