Biography
Hospital Corpsman Chief Petty Officer, Enlisted Surface Specialist David T. Roberts was born in Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, January 18, 1961 as 1 of a set of twins to parents Irving and Georgia (deceased) Hines. He was raised in Roosevelt, Long Island and graduated from William Tresper Clarke High School in June 1979. He began his naval career on 01 October 1991 at Recruit Training Command followed by Hospital Corpsman "A" School in Great Lakes, Illinois where he advanced to Third Class Petty Officer. He continued his education at Naval School of the Health Sciences, Bethesda Maryland, where he graduated as an Advanced Medical Laboratory Technician, achieving a top 10 rank standing in 1993, after achieving advancement to Second Class Petty Officer.
He reported to his first duty station at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He held a variety of assignments in the laboratory including Leading Petty Officer of the microbiology, mycology, micobacteriology, immunology, serology, and parasitology divisions. During his tenure Chief Roberts demonstrated increased knowledge by working and managing a newly created Processing Branch. This included accession, process for testing, and mail out to reference laboratories all inpatient and outpatient Clinical Pathology specimens within the Command, in addition to specimens received from 27 Branch Medical Clinics. He assisted in the workload of 310,000 specimens. Knowledge of this new branch was acquired in 3 days instead of the typical 3 months, while maintaining proficiency in Mycology and Bacteriology, working unassisted and unsupervised. He also maintained an annual budget of $350,000, reducing daily operating expenses by $70,000 while assisting with the implementation of the Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing.
In November 1999, Chief Roberts reported to the USS Trenton (LPD-14) stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. During this tour he became the Leading Petty Officer at Sea for the Medical Division and Laboratory Officer, the ship deployed twice, once to the Mediterranean in 2000, the second, during Operation Enduring Freedom in support of the Global War on Terrorism in 2002, participating in the Djibouti MEUEX and Gulf of Oman operations.
Following his sea tour, he was accepted to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland as the research assistant to four Doctors as the Clinical Laboratory Specialist. He assisted in the experimental capabilities of biological dosimetry molecular assays and techniques with the extraction of 60 RNA and 20 DNA blood samples. Provided data entry and biodose assessment of over 60 patients exposed to ionizing radiation. He also provided training to 1260 Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences medical students during three Kerkeshner and one Bushmaster in-field operations, facilitating the Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Medical Survival, Point of Injury, Marine Battalion Aid Station, Emergency Medical Squadron, and Urban Assault/Emergency Response Training exercises. He was advanced to Petty Officer, First Class, December 2004.
Chief Roberts reported to the Naval Branch Health Clinic, La Maddalena, Italy, November, 2005 where he became Laboratory Manager and Clinic LPO. He expertly supervised active duty Laboratory, X-ray, Pharmacy, and Clinic staff in the daily Clinic operations, providing healthcare to over 50,000 active duty patient and their beneficiaries in Europe. As the clinic manager, he developed and implemented more than 10 clinic process and improvement policies, resulting in a savings of $60,000 while reducing patient turnaround time by 50%. In preparation to base closure, managerial acumen for the oversight of clinic ancillary services proved to be noteworthy. Supervised the redistribution of $2 million dollars worth of medical and dental equipment, directing movement of items from La Maddalena, Italy to Naples, Italy. During the disestablishment of the NSA base, he prepared the laboratory for the College of American Pathologists comprehensive inspection. Personal undertaking for service within excellence resulted in a perfect score for the inspection in addition to receiving accolades from the Laboratory Inspector for receiving the highest scores in the European theater. In September, 2007, he was selected to Chief Petty Officer.
After a successful tour, Chief Roberts was assigned for duty as Directorate Leading Chief Petty Officer, Medical Services, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. From March 2008 to June 2009. He successfully led 75 Corpsmen and 60 civilians in six clinical departments. Ensured personnel supported 80 physicians and medical officers, and 50 nurses in providing world class medical care to over 40,000 active duty personnel and their beneficiaries. He was assigned as Directorate Leading Chief Petty Officer, Nursing Services in July 2009. While managing 4 wards, he was his Front line leadership in the lives of over 150 Sailors produced a retention and advancement rate above the Navy’s average while supporting 200 doctors and nurses in providing world class healthcare to 16,000 patients. These efforts directly led to two departmental DOD Family Centered Awards.
As Laboratory Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE HAITI, Chief Roberts supervised laboratory staff of 15 Technicians and four Junior Officers, implementing more than 15 process improvement policies at a savings of $60,000 while reducing patient turnaround time by 50%. He managed a team that processed and reported more than 200,000 test results and 1,000 blood products while providing support for 400 surgeries, ensuring medical care over 1,000 earthquake victims within 8 weeks. While on the ground in Port-O-Prince he lead a 125 man joint task force team which maintained communications, security, and mobilization support for 250 casualties at the Terminal Varreux triage site, ensuring safe transport and discharge of 200 casualties.
As one of the Transitional Senior Enlisted Leaders, Chief Roberts was involved with the merger of National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, forming the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Medical Psychiatric division. His keen insight on policies, procedures, and other program management issues were paramount in establishing the first integrated military treatment facility, staffing the division with Soldier, Airmen, Sailor, and civilian personnel. His leadership provided outstanding counseling, joint strategic planning, and cultural exchange between Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps active duty staff.
Selected as the Command Casualty Affairs Calls Officer (CACO) Representative for the National Capital Region in September 2010, he supported a team of Navy, government, and civilian agencies. Chief Roberts recruited, coordinated, and supervised a 15 person CACO team. His team was effective in the assistance of 200 family members of ill, wounded, and diseased active duty Navy personnel. He developed a comprehensive training program designed to improve the Command CACO program, resulting in a 150% increase of qualified personnel. This improved relations with active duty family members.
Chief Roberts is a graduate of Trident University International, Class 2010.
Chief Roberts' Military Awards/Commendations are as follows:
Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal (4 Awards)
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Citation (2 Awards)
Navy Good Conduct Medal (6 Awards)
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal (2 Awards)
Sea Service Ribbon (2 Awards)
Overseas Sea Service Ribbon (2 Awards)