Commander Sandeep Kumar
Executive Officer, USNS Comfort
17 April 2025
Commander (CDR) Sandeep Kumar assumed his current role as Executive Officer, USNS
Comfort (T-AH 20), in March 2026.
CDR Kumar is a native of Punjab, India. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Punjab Technical University, India. He earned multiple advanced degrees: a Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies from Missouri State University; a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; a Master of Science in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School; and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. He earned a graduate fellowship certificate in Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction from the National Defense University and a Joint Professional Military Education – Phase I diploma from the Naval War College.
Enlisted in the Navy in October 2002 and upon graduation from Recruit Training Command, he attended Hospital Corps ‘A’ School, Great Lakes, Illinois and Field Medical Service School, Camp Pendleton, California. Upon graduation, he reported to First Marine Division Detachment, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, where he served as the training petty officer and deployed to Iraq in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
In 2007, he was selected for a commission through the Medical Service Corps In-service Procurement Program and became a Navy healthcare administrator. In April 2008, he was commissioned as a lieutenant junior grade and reported to Officer Development School, Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation, he reported to Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California to attend a Duty Under Instruction program.
In April 2010, he reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D.C., where he served as a Manpower Analyst and Interim Branch Head for Programming division within the Manpower and Personnel directorate.
In May 2012, he was selected to serve as the Department Head for Human Resources, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia. In May 2014, he reported as the Medical Administration Officer and Principal Assistant to the Senior Medical Officer onboard USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. He completed a deployment to the Fifth and Sixth fleets in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
In June 2016, he reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N1), Arlington, Virginia, where he served as the Section Head, Navy Medicine Manpower Requirements and Navy Manpower in Support of Marine Corps.
In March 2021, he reported as the Director for Administration, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. He deployed to the Caribbean, Central and South America in support of the Continuing Promise 2022 mission.
In August 2023, he reported as Medical Department Officer Community Manager, Bureau of Naval Personnel, Millington, Tennessee.
CDR Kumar is qualified as a Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Combat Action Ribbon, and various unit and campaign awards. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a certified Resilience Building Leadership Professional-Trainer.