Captain Colin G. Chinn, MC, USN assumed command this week at a Naval Hospital Oak Harbor Change of Command Ceremony. He will relieve Captain Susan B. Herrold, NC, USN.
Chinn graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health. He received a Master’s Degree in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University of Public Health in 1982 and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1985 with a Medical Degree.
After his commissioning as an Ensign in 1981, he attended medical school via the Health Professions Scholarship Program. He entered active service in 1985 while assigned as an Intern at Naval Hospital Oakland. Captain Chinn served as Battalion Surgeon with 3D Reconnaissance Battalion, 3D Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan from August 1986 to August 1987.
His next assignment was training as an internal medicine resident at Naval Hospital Oakland from September 1987 to August 1990. During this time he also served as the Chief Medical Resident.
In October 1990, he was assigned to Naval Hospital Corpus Christi where he served as Head, Internal Medicine and Laboratory Medical Director.
Captain Chinn completed his medical education at Naval Medical Center San Diego where he received training in gastroenterology from July 1991 to July 1993. His next assignment was as Staff Gastroenterologist and Independent Duty Corpsman Program Director at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Captain Chinn reported to 3D Force Service Support Group as Group Surgeon and Officer-in-Charge, Group Aid Station in May 1998. He then reported as Director of Medical Services, U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa in September 2000. He served as the Executive Officer of Naval Hospital Lemoore, California from April 2003 to April 2006.
He lives in Anacortes with his wife, the former Eiko Kiyuna of Okinawa and their son Kelly.
Captain Herrold has been the Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor since May 2003. During her tenure, a Computerized Tomography Unit (CT Scan) and support facilities were added to the hospital, Pharmacy received a robotics dispensing upgrade, implementation of Electronic Medical Records (AHLTA), Dental was successfully integrated into the Naval Hospital command structure and successful JCAHO/MEDIG Surveys were completed in 2006. In addition, NHOH received the Pipeline Mover’s Award (2004 and 2005) and the Navy Environmental Health Center Silver Eagle Health Promotions Award (2003).
Captain Herrold’s next assignment will be as Deputy Director of Clinical Operations overseeing the Navy’s Pharmacy, Blood, Risk Management and Quality Assurance Programs, at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington D.C.
By Sharon McIntyre
NHOH PAO
