Marines


Director of Preventive Medicine
Director of Preventive Medicine for HQMC

Commander Alfred J. (John) Owings, II, MC, USN 

Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Health Services, Headquarters Marine Corps

alfred.owings@usmc.mil

703-604-4598
 

CDR Owings attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated cum laude, receiving his Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1993.  He was winged as a Naval Aviator in February, 1996, and served two tours as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIX in Norfolk, Virginia, and at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.  He made two deployments as a helicopter Search and Rescue pilot, one aboard USS INCHON (MCS-12) and one in support of 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) aboard USS SAIPAN (LHA-2).  He made a third deployment as an Individual Augmentee aboard USNS COMFORT (T-AH-20) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before being honorably discharged.

Following completion of a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a focus in International Affairs at Georgetown University in 2006, he entered medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, where he received his Doctorate in Medicine in 2010.  He was recommissioned in the Navy, and completed Internship training in Family Medicine at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida, in 2011. 

He trained at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) in Pensacola, Florida, graduating in 2012, and subsequently served as a Squadron Flight Surgeon at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 in Norfolk, Virginia.  He was selected for Residency training in General Preventive Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), where he reported in June, 2014.  There, he earned a Master of Public Health and served as Chief Resident of the General Preventive Medicine Residency Program, successfully completing training in 2016.

Following Residency, he reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as the II MEF Preventive Medicine Officer and Deputy Force Surgeon.  During this assignment, he achieved Board Certification in General Preventive Medicine, and attained his Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer qualification.  Following his tour at II MEF, he was assigned to Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO (NEPMU-2) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he reported in August, 2018.  He served as Department Head of the Threat Assessment Department, Team Leader of Forward Deployable Preventive Medicine Unit (FDPMU) One, and as Assistant Officer-in-Charge during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was selected as Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine for Health Services, Headquarters Marine Corps, where he reported during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in July, 2020.  He serves there currently, as the principle public health advisor to The Medical Officer of the Marine Corps and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

CDR Owings is a Diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine.  His personal decorations include the Navy Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various service and unit awards.  He is qualified as a Naval Flight Surgeon and Fleet Marine Force Warfare Officer.  He is married to Robin Owings, also originally from Richmond, Virginia, and they have three beautiful daughters, Clara, Frances, and Cate.

Headquarters Marine Corps