JOAN M. ENGEL

  Rear Admiral, Senior Health Care Executive, United States Navy (Retired)

RADM Engel, a native of St. Marys, PA, is a graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Buffalo, New York.  She received a BS Ed from Clarion University in Clarion, PA and a Master of Science in Nursing with a dual major in Community Health Nursing and Nursing Administration from the University of Alabama, in Birmingham, Alabama.

She completed a 30-year career in the United States Navy.  During this time, she held various clinical and administrative assignments overseas and stateside.  She served as the 18^th Director of the Navy Nurse Corps advancing the roles of over 5,000 active and reserve Nurse Corps officers.   She concurrently served as the Assistant Chief, Education, Training and Personnel, directing the accession and training of 11,000 Medical department officer personnel and the training of 29,000 hospital corpsman and dental technicians.  RADM Engel was the first Nurse Corps officer to hold the following positions:  Junior Nurse Corps Detailer, Washington, DC; Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, Northeast Region, Great Lakes, IL; the first non-physician to serve as the Assistant Chief, Operational Medicine and Fleet Support.  She was the first Nurse Corps officer to be selected by board action for promotion to Rear Admiral (Upper Half).

She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and a Wharton Fellow.  She is a member of various nursing associations and military organizations; is an honorary fellow in the American Academy of Medical Administrators and an honorary Master Chief Petty Officer.  She received the Distinguished Alumni Awards from Clarion University and the University of Alabama, School of Nursing.  She received the President’s Award from the American Academy of Family Physicians and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree from Clarion University. 

Her military awards include:  Legion of Merit (3 awards); Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards); Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), and National Defense Medal (2 awards).

She is a Past President of the Pensacola Chapter, Military Officers Association of America; Chair of the Chapter’s ROTC/JROTC awards program; Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of the Escambia County Veterans Roundtable; Associate Member of the Pensacola Lions Club; Member of the Gulf Coast Navy Nurse Corps Association, Women of the Sea Services (Northwest Florida WAVES Unit #52);  President of the Board of Directors for Independence for the Blind of Northwest Florida and Representative for the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS), Pensacola Joint Ambulatory Care Clinic. 

RADM Engel is married to LTCOL Walter R. Limbach, USMC (Ret).