PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Lt. Cmdr. Maya Adams, a native of Hamilton, helps medical forces meet readiness, training, and operational requirements across a spectrum of military operations while serving with Naval Medical Forces Atlantic at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth military treatment facility.

Serving military members and their families since 1830, the Portsmouth center is the Navy’s oldest, continuously operating hospital.

“I joined the Navy to have a career in healthcare administration while serving my country,” said Adams, who joined the Navy 13 years ago.

Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trinity Washington University in 2001 and a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from State University of New York in 2008.

Navy Medicine — comprised of approximately 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals — provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Skills and values similar to those found in Hamilton are important to succeed in the military.

“I learned in my hometown how to work with people from different backgrounds,” said Adams. “Everyone in the Navy does things differently, so you have to be flexible and able to work with diverse groups of people to be able to accomplish the mission.”

“Warfighters are our most important weapon system,” said Navy Surgeon General Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham. “We prepare and sustain that system. When the warfighter is having their worst day, our high-performing people will be at their best.”

“The Navy is critical to national defense because we protect our sea and deter adversaries,” said Adams. With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the U.S. is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“My proudest Navy accomplishment is being promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander,” said Adams.

“I was promoted based on my work as the Department Head of Patient Administration at Quantion Division Officer at Walter Reed Bethesda. I am proud of this accomplishment because it’s hard to be promoted in this position, so the fact that I did was an accomplishment,” Adams added.

“Serving in the Navy means having national pride and giving back to my country,” Adams said.