Karen Flaherty
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Karen Flaherty assumed duties as the Deputy Surgeon General of Navy Medicine at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery as of August 6, 2010. Rear Admiral Flaherty served as the 22nd Director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps
as well as the Deputy Chief, Wounded, Ill, and Injured at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery from 2009 to 2010.
, and joined the United States Navy
as a Nurse Corps Candidate in July 1973. She graduated from Skidmore College
and attended Officer Indoctrination School
at Newport, R.I., in August 1974.
Flaherty’s subsequent reserve tours included assignments to numerous Naval Hospitals and Fleet Hospital commands. She has served as Commanding Officer Fleet Hospital Fort Dix, Executive Officer, Director of Nursing Services, Officer-in-Charge, and Training Officer.
In February 1991, she was recalled to serve with Fleet Hospital 15, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. She served as CO OPNAV 093 prior to assuming Flag duties as the Deputy Commander Force Integration National Capital Area and the Deputy Chief for Health Care Operations at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
and has held senior executive leadership positions at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, St. Francis Hospital
in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
(two awards), Meritorious Service Medal
, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation
(two awards), National Defense Service Medal
(three awards), Humanitarian Service Medal
, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberation Medal
s.
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Karen Flaherty assumed duties as the Deputy Surgeon General of Navy Medicine at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery as of August 6, 2010. Rear Admiral Flaherty served as the 22nd Director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps
United States Navy Nurse Corps
The United States Navy Nurse Corps was officially established by Congress in 1908; however, unofficially, women had been working as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals for nearly 100 years.-Pre-1908:...
as well as the Deputy Chief, Wounded, Ill, and Injured at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery from 2009 to 2010.
Early life
Rear Admiral Karen Flaherty is a native of Winsted, ConnecticutWinsted, Connecticut
Winsted is a census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Winchester, Connecticut. The population was 7,321 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a Nurse Corps Candidate in July 1973. She graduated from Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
and attended Officer Indoctrination School
Direct commission officer
A direct commission officer is a uniformed officer who has received a commission without the typical prerequisites for achieving a commission, such as a four year service academy, a four year or two year college ROTC program, or one of the officer candidate school or officer training school...
at Newport, R.I., in August 1974.
Navy Nurse Corps career
Flaherty’s first assignment was Quantico Naval Hospital where she served as a staff nurse and charge nurse on the Surgical ward, Orthopedic ward, and the Maximum Care Unit. Upon transfer to the Philadelphia Naval Medical Center in 1977, she assumed the duties as charge nurse for the General Surgery Unit and the Obstetric and Gynecology clinic. Flaherty reported for duty as the Officer Programs Officer for Naval Recruiting Command, Navy Recruiting District New Jersey in 1979. She transitioned to the Naval Reserve in 1982.Flaherty’s subsequent reserve tours included assignments to numerous Naval Hospitals and Fleet Hospital commands. She has served as Commanding Officer Fleet Hospital Fort Dix, Executive Officer, Director of Nursing Services, Officer-in-Charge, and Training Officer.
In February 1991, she was recalled to serve with Fleet Hospital 15, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. She served as CO OPNAV 093 prior to assuming Flag duties as the Deputy Commander Force Integration National Capital Area and the Deputy Chief for Health Care Operations at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Director, Navy Nurse Corps
Flaherty was the 22nd Director of the Navy Nurse Corps and the Deputy Chief, Wounded, Ill, and Injured at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery from 2009 to 2010. In August 2010, she assumed duties as the Deputy Surgeon General of Navy Medicine at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.Education
Rear Admiral Flaherty received her Masters of Science from the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and has held senior executive leadership positions at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, St. Francis Hospital
St. Francis Hospital
St. Francis Hospital may refer to:*St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital of The Sisters Of The Poor Of St...
in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Awards
Rear Admiral Flaherty is authorized to wear the Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(two awards), Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of meritorious service worthy of recognition. This medal can be awarded in a combat or non- combat theatre...
, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Citation
The Meritorious Unit Citation is a collective group decoration awarded to members of Australian military units. It recognises sustained outstanding service in warlike operations...
(two awards), National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
(three awards), Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Liberation Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal
The Kuwait Liberation Medal is a military service medal of several countries. The medal is issued in different versions for each country, those being:*Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal *Kuwait Liberation Medal...
s.