Captain Darla M. Dietrich

Executive Officer, USNS Mercy

01 August 2022 Captain Darla Dietrich, native of Wharton, Texas, entered the U.S. Navy in July 2002 by direct accession.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University in 1997 and a Masters in Health Services Management from Mary Hardin Baylor University in 2000. 
Her first duty station was Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia where she served as a Business Analyst for Fleet and Family Medicine Directorate and Administrative Officer for Boone Branch Medical Clinic.  During this period Dietrich deployed to U.S. Military Hospital Kuwait serving as the Director, Outpatient Clinical Services, providing operational support for eleven medical clinics, two preventive medicine units and two mental health units in a combat sustainment environment.

In 2005, Dietrich reported onboard USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as the Medical Division Officer.  Her leadership ensured the five thousand members onboard received high quality medical care throughout four numbered fleet areas of operation during deployed combat operations.  Assigned to Naval Health Clinic Hawaii in 2007 as the Department Head, Deployment Health Center, enabling a ready military force and ensuring appropriate post deployment care.

In 2009, Dietrich was competitively selected for the Navy Legislative Fellowship program, serving as the military legislative assistant for Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.  In 2010, she reported to the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) as a Legislative Liaison, preparing the Surgeon General and his leadership team for Congressional interactions and providing legislative analysis to ensure Navy Medicine confidently and effectively articulated their equities and strategic priorities to Congress.  While at BUMED, she deployed to Landstuhl, Germany in 2013 as the Officer in Charge, Deployed Warrior Medical Management Center, responsible for a Tri-Service team coordinating the medical evacuation of all inbound and outbound patients to the hospital throughout six numbered fleet areas of operation.

Dietrich reported to U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy in 2014 initially serving as Department Head, Human Resources and Patient Administration, finishing her tour as the Director for Healthcare Business.   Her subsequent milestone tours included Director for Administration at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Officer in Charge of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Tricare Prime Clinic Suffolk.  In 2022, Captain Dietrich joined the TRICARE Area Office Eurasia-Africa as their Deputy Director.

Since June 2024, she serves as the Executive Officer, MTF MERCY (TAH-19).

Captain Dietrich is a board certified Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.  She is authorized to wear the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer warfare device.  Her decorations include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service medals, five Navy Marine Corps Commendation medals, one Army Commendation medal and numerous unit, service, and campaign medals.