Joan Marie Engel
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
Joan Marie Engel held the position as the 18th Director of the Navy Nurse Corps from September 1994 to August 1998. She concurrently served as deputy commander for personnel management in the Health Sciences, Education and Training Command, and later as assistant chief for Education, Training and Personnel.
in 1940. She was the first school nurse at Elk County Christian High School.
, the 17th Navy Nurse Corps director.
Clinical nursing assignments included assignments at the Naval Hospital, Millington, TN; Branch Medical Clinic, Iwakuni, Japan; Branch Medical Clinic, LaMaddalena, Sardinia; and Naval Hospitals in Charleston, SC, Jacksonville, FL, Newport, RI, and Pensacola, FL.
Engel's administrative assignments included being the first junior Nurse Detailer, BUMED; the first Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics, Naval Medical Command, Northeast Region, Great Lakes, IL; Naval Inspector General staff, Washington, D.C., and Naval Medical Inspector General staff, BUMED; and Deputy Director, Navy Nurse Corps, BUMED.
She served as the 18th Director, Navy Nurse Corps from October 1994 until August 1998.
Rear Admiral Engel retired in January 2000 as the Assistant Chief, Operational Medicine and Fleet Support, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, DC, a position she held since August 1996.
in 1961. She earned a bachelor's degree
in public school nursing from Clarion University in Pennsylvania
in 1969. In 1980, she earned a Master of Science
in nursing from the University of Alabama
School of Nursing. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing
, a Wharton Fellow and holds an honorary fellowship in the American Academy of Medical Administrators.
(two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal
(four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the National Defense Medal with bronze star. In 1998, the Clarion University Alumni Association presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Joan Marie Engel held the position as the 18th Director of the Navy Nurse Corps from September 1994 to August 1998. She concurrently served as deputy commander for personnel management in the Health Sciences, Education and Training Command, and later as assistant chief for Education, Training and Personnel.
Early life
Rear Adm. Engel was born in St. Marys, PennsylvaniaSt. Marys, Pennsylvania
St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the...
in 1940. She was the first school nurse at Elk County Christian High School.
Navy Nurse Corps Career
Engel entered the Navy Nurse Corps in 1969 as a Lieutenant. She served in various stateside and overseas naval hospitals, progressing in rank with jobs of increasing responsibility. She became deputy director of the Nurse Corps, serving under the RADM Mariann StrattonMariann Stratton
Rear Admiral Mariann Stratton was the Director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps from 1991 to 1994.-Biography:Born in Houston, Texas, Stratton joined the Navy Nurse Corps in 1964 and attended school on a Navy Nurse Corps Candidate Scholarship. She graduated from Sacred Heart Dominican College...
, the 17th Navy Nurse Corps director.
Clinical nursing assignments included assignments at the Naval Hospital, Millington, TN; Branch Medical Clinic, Iwakuni, Japan; Branch Medical Clinic, LaMaddalena, Sardinia; and Naval Hospitals in Charleston, SC, Jacksonville, FL, Newport, RI, and Pensacola, FL.
Engel's administrative assignments included being the first junior Nurse Detailer, BUMED; the first Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics, Naval Medical Command, Northeast Region, Great Lakes, IL; Naval Inspector General staff, Washington, D.C., and Naval Medical Inspector General staff, BUMED; and Deputy Director, Navy Nurse Corps, BUMED.
She served as the 18th Director, Navy Nurse Corps from October 1994 until August 1998.
Rear Admiral Engel retired in January 2000 as the Assistant Chief, Operational Medicine and Fleet Support, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, DC, a position she held since August 1996.
Education
RADM Engel received her nursing diploma from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in 1961. She earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in public school nursing from Clarion University in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1969. In 1980, she earned a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in nursing from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
School of Nursing. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing
American Academy of Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing generates, synthesizes, and disseminates nursing knowledge to contribute to health policy and practice for the benefit of the public and the nursing profession....
, a Wharton Fellow and holds an honorary fellowship in the American Academy of Medical Administrators.
Awards
Engel has earned the Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(two awards), the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the National Defense Medal with bronze star. In 1998, the Clarion University Alumni Association presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with Gold Star
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with three Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
with bronze star
Further reading
Fact filled, extensively researched account of the evolution of the roles of women in the United States Navy, treating the parallel and entertwined paths of the Navy Nurse Corps and the WAVES. About one-third of the pages are devoted to notes and bibliography.External links
- Nurses and the U.S. Navy -- Overview and Special Image Selection Naval Historical Center
- Joan Engel