Change of Command at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital

A traditional Navy Change of Command and retirement ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. June 28, at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., where Commanding Officer, Capt. Ann Bobeck, Medical Service Corps, United States Navy will be relieved by Capt. Jay Sourbeer, Medical Corps, United States Navy.

Bobeck took command in May 2010, and will be retiring after serving 29 years in the United States Navy.

Bobeck was born in Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania, the youngest of seven children.  Following graduation from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration and Planning in 1981.  Her initial assignment in 1983 was at Naval Medical Command, North West Region, Oakland, California where she served as the Assistant to the Associate Director of Plans and Operations, as well as the Flag Aide to the Commander, Navy Medical Command North West Region.

After her assignment at Oakland, Bobeck transferred to Naval Hospital Philadelphia in 1986 and was assigned as the Head, Outpatient Records followed by a promotion to Head, Patient Administration.  During this two year tour, her Patient Administration Department earned Naval Hospital Philadelphia the "Certified Pipeline Mover" Award, the first time Navy Medicine was awarded this distinction.  After Duty under Instruction at The George Washington University, Bobeck was awarded a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration in 1990.  Upon graduation, she was assigned as the Head, Patient Administration Department, Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan until December 1992.

Subsequent assignments from 1993-1998 included Director for Administration and Resources, Naval School of Dental Assisting and Technology, San Diego, California., and Senior Analyst, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, where she wrote the Navy’s contact lens policy to support operational requirements. 

In October of 1998, she assumed responsibility as the Director, TRICARE Western Pacific, implementing the Navy’s first contract to provide healthcare services in remote countries, which now provides services world-wide.  From 2001-2007, Bobeck served as Associate Director, Healthcare Operations and Planning, National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland., Director, Healthcare Operations and Planning, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, as well as the Director, Multi-Service Market Office, San Diego.

Bobeck’s previous assignment before reporting to Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms was as Executive Officer, Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, Maryland. 

She is a Certified Healthcare Administrator, American Academy of Medical Administrators.  Her awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), the Navy Achievement Medal as well as numerous unit and service awards. 

Bobeck is married to a fellow Navy Medical Department Officer, Captain Scott Colburn, Dental Corps, United States Navy.

Bobeck and her husband will be retiring to Southport, North Carolina, after a combined 52 years of U.S. Naval Service.

Prospective Commanding Officer, Captain Jay Sourbeer was born in 1959 in Clearwater, Florida.  After graduating Largo High School in June 1977, he attended Duke University, graduating with honors, completing bachelor degrees in chemistry and economics in 1981.  Sourbeer joined the Navy in 1981 via the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program.  He completed his Medical Doctorate in June 1985 at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

In 2009 Sourbeer was selected to attend the Naval War College, serving as the Class President and earning his Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

He is dual boarded in Family Practice and Occupational Medicine, Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine.  He is a Flight Surgeon, Undersea Medical Officer, Surface Warfare Medical Officer, Submarine Warfare Medical Officer, and he also has earned the Presidential Service Badge and the Deep Submergence Dolphins.

Sourbeer served as the Executive Officer, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor prior to reporting to the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital.

Sourbeer’s wife Shelly and sons, Jeffrey and Jay will accompany him on this tour in Twentynine Palms.