Dr. Richard R. Jeffries, D.O., RADM USN (Retired)
Dr. Richard (Dr. J) Jeffries. D.O., RADM USN (Retired), began his distinguished naval career in 1976 with an Armed Forces Scholarship to the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery at now Des Moines University, graduating in 1979. He retired from the Navy in 2011 and began working with Grace and Associates in 2012.
Dr. Jeffries completed a Family Medicine residency at Naval Hospital Pensacola in 1982 and attained three Board Certifications, two in Family Medicine and one the Added Qualification in Geriatric Medicine. His career included Head, Family Practice Department, Acting Director Clinical Services, and Chief, Medical Staff at Twentynine Palms, CA, then Staff and Residency Faculty, Clinic Director and finally Director, Residency Training at Naval Hospital Camp Penleton.
After being promoted to Director, Residency Training, Jeffries attained Board Certification in Family Medicine from the American Osteopathic Board of General Practice and Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians. He later passed Board Certification for Added Qualification in Geriatric Medicine.
Dr. Jeffries is a Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians and a member of the AAFP, Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians, and Surgeons (Past President), Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States.
During Operation Desert Shield, Dr. Jeffries was augmented to the 1st Marine Division. In theater, he was appointed deputy then acting Division Surgeon. The next summer he was appointed Division Surgeon and later Marine Forces Central Command and I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Force Surgeon for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia representing U.S. military healthcare to the U.N. Coalition.
After serving in theater, Dr. Jeffries was re-assigned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton as Residency Program Director and Department Head, Family Medicine and later Chairman, Executive Committee of the Medical Staff. He completed his tour as Director, Medical Services.
Dr. Jeffries’ next assignment was to Marine Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as the Marine Force Surgeon for PACOM, CENTCOM, and UN Korea and on the TRICARE Pacific Executive Council. He was also the military liaison to the Board of Directors, Hawaii State Chapter American Red Cross. In 2000 he assumed duties as Deputy Commander for Clinical Services, Tripler Army Medical Center until he took command of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in 2003-2005.
Dr. Jeffries reported to the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery as the first Deputy Chief for Future Plans and Strategies (M5) as a newly nominated Rear Admiral but was immediately deployed as the JFMCC Surgeon in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Later that year, Rear Adm. Jeffries reported to Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps as the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps serving until he received orders to report as Commander, National Naval Medical Center (now Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) and Regional Commander, Navy Medicine National Capital Area in Bethesda, Maryland.
Receiving his second star, RADM (Upper Half) Jeffries was sent back to the Marine Corps for a second war tour as the Commandant and Marine Corps' Senior Medical Officer and Head, Marine Health Affairs. Rear Adm. Jeffries retired from the Navy on 1 February 2011.
Rear Adm. Jeffries' personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four Gold Stars, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Gold Star, Combat Action Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with one Bronze Star, Army Order of Military Medical Merit, and Artillery Order of Saint Barbara.
Dr. Jeffries currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for Grace and Associates, LLC. He is also an advisor/board member for the Defense Strategies Institute and Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and America's Fund, Honorary.
