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Adapted from "Rear Admiral John Warren Albrittain, United States Navy, Retired" [biography, dated 27 March 1973] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

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John Warren Albrittain 

30 April 1911 - 20 September 1993


Rear Admiral John W. Albrittain, USN

Rear Admiral Albrittain was born in La Plata, Maryland, on 30 April 1911, the son of Alberta M. and Warren M. Albrittain. He received his early education in the public schools of Charles County, Maryland, and completed his pre-medical studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, in 1931. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland in 1935; and served a two-year rotating internship at the University Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland followed by two years of residency training in the same institution.

He was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Naval Reserve on 15 June 1939, and was ordered to active duty reporting 2 November 1940 to the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia. He transferred to the Regular Navy with a date of rank of 2 November 1940, and through subsequent promotions advanced in grade to Rear Admiral to rank from 1 July 1965.

Following his first tour of duty at the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, he was ordered to the Naval Medical School, Washington, DC, for indoctrination in August of 1941. He was then assigned to the US Naval Hospital, Quantico, Virginia. In December 1941 he was transferred to the US Naval Air Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in July 1943 reported for duty at the US Naval Dispensary, Washington, DC.

In March 1945, Admiral Albrittain returned to the Norfolk area as Medical Officer aboard USS Wyoming. In December 1946 he began three years of residency training in Dermatology at the US Naval Hospital, St. Albans, New York, and the New York Skin and Cancer Unit of New York University Postgraduate Medical School. Upon completing this residency, he qualified as a Diplomaté of the America Board of Dermatology and was assigned to the US Naval Hospital, Long Beach, California, as the Dermatologist. When the Naval Hospital at Long Beach was closed in June 1950, he was transferred to the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as a Dermatologist, and later as the Chief of the Dermatology Service. In March of 1953 he reported for duty as Medical Officer in USS Iowa, and upon the completion of this tour of duty in September 1954, he was assigned to the US Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland, as the Dermatologist.

In May 1959 he reported to the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery for duty as Head, Medical Corps Training. During this three-year tour in the Bureau, he also served as Head of the Training Branch, and later as Director of the Professional Division.

In June 1962, Admiral Albrittain was assigned to the. US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia, as the Executive Officer, and continued to serve in that capacity until 20 December 1964. On 8 January 1965, he assumed command of the US Naval Hospital, St. Albans, New York, and on 9 June 1965 he was notified by the Secretary of the Navy of his selection to the grade of Rear Admiral in the Medical Corps. He was promoted on 1 July 1966, to rank from 1 July 1965. Admiral Albrittain assumed command of the US Naval Hospital and US Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, Illinois, on 1 July 1966 with additional duty as District Medical Officer, Ninth Naval District.

Admiral Albrittain assumed duties as Deputy Surgeon General of the Navy and Deputy Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, in February 1969. In February 1973 he was awarded the Legion of Merit for the performance of duties as Deputy Surgeon General and Assistant Chief of the Bureau for Headquarters Operations.

On l March 1973 Admiral Albrittain retired from the Naval Service.

In addition to being a Diplomaté of the American Board of Dermatology, he was a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and was Alternate Navy Delegate to the American Medical Association while he served as Deputy Surgeon General. In addition to the Legion of Merit, his military decorations include the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe Clasp, and the National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star.

END 

Published: Fri Jan 05 12:02:44 EST 2018