Captain Stephen P. Arles

Commanding Officer, USNS Comfort

21 June 2023 Capt. Arles is a native of New Rochelle, N.Y. He attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA graduating Cum Laude in Engineering in 1987. He earned his medical degree from Duke University in 1996 and completed a Family Medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center. After serving stateside and abroad as a Family Physician, Arles completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Naval Medical Center San Diego and a Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital. His professional qualifications have included Board Certification in Family Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

Arles served as a Family Physician and Senior Medical Officer at Naval Air Station Atlanta from 2000 to 2003 and at Naval Branch Health Clinic La Maddalena (Sardinia) from 2003 to 2006. He received an Academic Appointment from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in 2011 and has been active faculty member in the Diagnostic Radiology residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

From July 2012 to 2014, he served as Division Officer of Nuclear Medicine at NMCSD overseeing an expansion of clinical services and implementation of a comprehensive radiopharmaceutical safety program. Arles was appointed Subspecialty Advisor for Nuclear Medicine in June 2013 advising on personnel, capital equipment, and clinical policies. In January 2014, Arles was appointed as Department Head Naval Branch Health Clinic Naval Base San Diego leading 190 active-duty and civilian staff in the provision of Medical and Dental services to 14,000 beneficiaries while providing critical clinical and leadership input into a $14.7 million facility renovation project. Arles' application of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Team STEPPS Instructor techniques helped ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care leading to the Clinic Award for "Sustained Top Performer" for Calendar Year 2014.

In September 2017, Arles completed an Executive MBA program through the Naval Postgraduate School. In November,he reported to the Forward-Deployed Amphibious Assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD6) as Senior Medical Officer where his leadership ensured the seamless integration of 120 Officers, Chiefs and Junior Corpsman across Fleet Surgical Teams SEVEN, NINE and FIVE; 7 embarked Marine Medical Units; and ship's forces to establish the only Role II capable vessel in the 7th Fleet AOR providing critical medical services for more than 4,000 Sailors, Marines and Allied Forces.

In August 2020, Arles was appointed Executive Officer at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Corpus Christi, TX where he finalized the establishment of the NMRTC construct and championed the transition to DHA management of the MTF. His Team championed the first implementation of MHS GENESIS electronic health record in the Naval Medical Forces Atlantic region. Arles' team-based leadership style unified the Wardroom and Chief's Mess improving communication and leading to Mission-focused process improvements.

In August 2022 Arles was appointed as the first Director of Maritime Operations at Naval Medical Forces Pacific (NMFP) where he has been integral in establishing NMFP as a Medical TYCOM utilizing the MHQ/MOC construct to effectively manage EXMED capabilities in support of BUMED's Mission to project medical power in support of Naval Superiority.

Arles' decorations include Meritorious Service Medals (2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (2) and various unit and campaign awards.