Lieutenant Commander Stephanie Burkhart, a native of Cascade, Montana, enlisted in the United States Navy in August 2001 as a Hospital Corpsman. While on active duty, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Saint Leo University and served in multiple operational and administrative roles across Navy Medicine.
In 2011, she transitioned to the Navy Reserve to pursue advanced education, earning a Master of Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State University, where she completed a healthcare residency at Hershey Medical Center, and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Louisiana State University.
Commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer through Direct Accession in 2017, she returned to active duty at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, serving as Department Head for Operations Management and later Patient Administration. During this tour, she deployed aboard USNS Comfort in support of Hurricane Maria relief operations in Puerto Rico.
In July 2019, she reported to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as Medical Administration Officer and Principal Assistant. She earned her Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer qualification and received the Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award. She also served as the 2020 President of the Medical Service Corps Association of Hampton Roads.
Following that tour, she served as Deputy Assistant Director for Resource Operations at the Defense Health Agency, Defense Health Network Atlantic, overseeing financial execution, manpower planning, and logistics integration across 13 military treatment facilities in the eastern United States in support of enterprise-wide readiness and modernization initiatives.
In 2024, Lieutenant Commander Burkhart reported to 1st Medical Battalion, serving as Deputy Operations Officer before assuming command of Surgical Company Bravo, leading Sailors and Marines in expeditionary medical operations. Currently serving as the Interim Executive Officer of 1st Medical Battalion, she provides executive leadership and management of the battalion's day-to-day operations and personnel readiness. She also serves as the 1st Medical Battalion Wardroom President, fostering officer mentorship and professional development.
Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various unit and service awards.