Captain Kathryn M. Stewart
Executive Officer, USNS Comfort
17 April 2025
Captain Stewart grew up as a USCG dependent, with her family settling in Virginia. In 2001, she was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy after graduating from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She completed tours at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, gaining clinical and leadership experience in Pediatric and Neonatal intensive care settings. She was selected for full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2010 graduated from Duke University with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing, Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Lieutenant Stewart transferred to the former National Naval Medical Center, now known as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda. She served in the role of pediatric nurse practitioner in the outpatient setting and clinical nurse specialist of the inpatient Pediatric Ward and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). She led the opening of the first stand-alone PICU within the National Capital Region. In September of 2011, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In 2013, LCDR Stewart transferred to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, serving as the Assistant Department Head of Pediatrics and Department Head, Inpatient Pediatrics. In these roles, she was responsible for personnel and inpatient and outpatient spaces to include the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, PICU, and Inpatient Pediatric Ward. Appointed as Navy Specialty Leader for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nursing in 2014, she served on the Defense Health Board’s Health Care Delivery subcommittee and led the creation of a PICU additional qualifying designator, facilitating an improved process to deploy Nurse Corps officers. In 2015, she was appointed as a USUHS Instructor of Pediatrics faculty member.
Lieutenant Commander Stewart was selected for full-time Duty Under Instruction and in 2018 graduated with a Master of Health Administration Degree through the Army-Baylor program. In 2017, she was promoted to the rank of Commander. Upon graduation, Commander Stewart arrived at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune to serve in the role of Director, Healthcare Business. She led the Tricare Operations, Utilization Management, and Case Management departments.
In 2021, Commander Stewart arrived to Naval Medical Forces Atlantic to serve as the N3B, Operations Director. On Sept. 1, 2022, she promoted to the rank Captain and assumed the role of Director, Maritime Operations Center and N3/5 Operations and Plans in October 2022.
In 2024, Captain Stewart assumed the role of Executive Officer, USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20).
Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.