Honors and Awards

1991 – Navy Achievement Medal for providing care to 10,000+ patients.
1992 – Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation for his leadership as Optometry Department Head US Naval Hospital, RP; and for his involvement in multiple humanitarian missions.
1993 – Became only the second optometrist to successfully complete the Naval Aerospace Optometry curriculum and become designated as a Naval Aerospace Optometrist.
1994 – Awarded the prestigious “Golden Apple” for teaching excellence, the highest distinction for clinical and academic instructors at the Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute.
1996 – Navy Commendation Medal for his pioneering achievements in aerospace medicine and his unwavering commitment to the education of more than 300 Naval flight surgeons.
1998 – Conceived and spearheaded a landmark pilot program in which he became the first optometrist to deploy for a six-month operational cruise aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN in support of Operation Southern Watch. The Commanding Officer wrote:
“I am completely convinced that having a dedicated, aeromedically trained optometrist permanently assigned to an aircraft carrier significantly improves readiness, safety and quality of life for the entire battle group. I would not want to deploy again without optometry as a part of my medical team.”
1999 – Selected as a Navy candidate for the NASA Astronaut / Mission Specialist Program.
1999 – Selected by Director, Naval Air Warfare (N78) to lead a team tasked with assessing operational viability of laser eye surgery in Naval aviation. He assembled a 135-member team from 39 ashore and afloat commands, and coordinated a study considered the definitive evaluation of photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) in military aviation. The compelling results of the study became the basis for future approval of PRK in Navy pilots.
2000 – Became the first Navy Medical Service Corps Officer to be selected for flight training as part of the Aeromedical Dual Designator Program.
2001 – Aerospace Optometry program formally recognized as a Navy aeromedical designation.
2002 – Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his accomplishments as Clinic Director, Navy Refractive Surgery Center, Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA.
2002 – Armed Forces Optometrist of the Year.
2002 – “Commodore’s List with Distinction” Primary Flight Training.
2004 – PRK approved (waiverable) for all classes and categories of Naval aviation personnel.
2006 – Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award) for 20 years of distinguished service to the United States of America.
2011 – Selected Marquis “Who’s Who in America” (65th Edition)