Change of Executive Officer at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital

By Hospitalman Jeyzon Fernandez Jimenez
Public Affairs Staff / Editor
Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital

The Executive Officer, CAPT Cynthia J. Gantt, Nurse Corps, United States Navy was relieved by CAPT Angela S. Nimmo, Nurse Corps, United States Navy.

The command was officially established as Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in 1988 under the command of then CDR G. Russell Brown. Newly commissioned LT Cynthia J. Gantt became the first Family Nurse Practitioner assigned to the command; it was also her first “job” as a plank owner of the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital in 1991.

CAPT Cynthia J. Gantt, NC, USN, FNP-BC, Ph.D., a recipient of the American Hospital Associations (AHA), “2010 Federal Health Care Executive Award for Excellence,” was selected by Rear Adm. Elizabeth Niemyer, Director of the Navy Nurse Corps for the Executive Officer position at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms.

CAPT Gantt comes from Temple City, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. There she attended Temple City High School and then went on to earn an Associate Degree from Pasadena City College.

She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from her alma mater Sonoma State University, graduating cum laude and was the valedictorian speaker at the commencement ceremony. CAPT Gantt also later returned to Sonoma State University and earned a Master’s in Science degree as a Nurse Practitioner.

Furthermore, as a memorable experience, CAPT Gantt met her husband, Robert Gantt, here at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital. CAPT Gantt is eternally grateful for the inspiration and opportunities that she has received from her family, the United States Navy, military leaders and the mentors that she has learned from over the years.

In a previous interview with Daniel M. Barber, Public Affairs Officer (retired), CAPT Gantt emphasized the importance and value of an education. CAPT Gantt started at a community college and worked her way up to earning a Ph.D.

“‘I’ve told folks more than once, if I can do it, you can do it...Truly the value of an education, no matter how long they are in the Navy, whether they become a Master Chief Petty Officer, or if they are interested in becoming an officer, is...an absolutely valuable thing to have...and is a life-long process,’ said CAPT Gantt.”

CAPT Gantt’s leadership philosophy strongly highlights a few important and fundamental elements: positive leadership, trust and collaboration.

Regarding leadership, CAPT Gantt added, “I trust the folks that I lead and I want to be trusted by them. I firmly believe that leaders should be mentors and particularly that mentors or leaders are generous with their knowledge, and as much as possible, and with their time.”

The newest Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms’s Executive Officer is CAPT Angela S. Nimmo.

Her official biography denotes that she is the daughter of a retired Naval Officer. CAPT Nimmo graduated from a Department of Defense (DoD) High School in Naples, Italy. She received her Bachelor of Science from University of Memphis, College of Nursing in 1986.

She then completed a pediatric internship program at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn. and worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for two years.

She obtained her commission as an Ensign in 1988, and completed her first tour on the oncology unit at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. During this tour she deployed on the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort supporting Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

Her next duty station was at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy where she worked in a variety of settings including emergency room, in-patient ward, and Labor and Delivery.

Her next tour was at the Naval Health Care New England, Newport, RI. as Division Officer for one of the Family Practice Clinics.

She then became Department Head for Home Health and Health Promotions and established an ambulatory wound care clinic. She was then accepted into the Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) Program, completing her Master of Science degree and Clinical Nurse Specialist degree in Medical Surgical Nursing from University of Maryland, Baltimore graduating in May 2000.

She focused on specialized advanced wound care during her graduate studies. Upon completion of her degree she returned to National Naval Medical Center where she was the Department Head for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During this tour she once again deployed on the USNS Comfort supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The next tour of duty was the Naval Medical Clinic Quantico, Va. as Department Head for Primary Care and the Ambulance Services.

She reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville in July 2006, as the Department Head for Maternal Infant Unit and Labor and Delivery.

In April 2008, she became the Associate Director for Medical Services, and in Aug. 2009 she became the Director of Medical Services. She was also the Director for Nursing Administration at United States Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.

CAPT Nimmo is a board certified wound care specialist at the fellowship level with the American Board of Wound Management. She is a member of the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Society and Phi Kappa Phi.

Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).

CAPT Nimmo is married to her husband Paul, of Charleston, W. Va., and they have two children, Madelynn and Alexander.