Captain Sandy Holmes, US Navy Retired

Captain Sandy Holmes entered the Navy Nurse Corps Candidate Program while completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at the University of Michigan. Her Naval and professional nursing career began at Naval Hospital, Oakland California in 1965 where she served as the Charge Nurse of the amputee ward. This was followed by an 18-month tour at the Naval Hospital, Guam caring for more Vietnam casualties. From 1969 to 1972 she was assigned to recruiting duty in San Francisco, California. The highlight of this duty station was meeting her husband to be, Commander Richard B. Holmes, a Naval aviator.

Her very successful and distinguished 26-year career as both a Naval and Nurse Corps officer spanned some 12 different duty stations around the globe.

Captain Holmes first exposure to staff development occurred while stationed in the Philippines in 1976. Upon completion of her Master’s degree in Continuing Education at the Medical College of Georgia, she served for five years as the Director, Nurse Corps Programs in Washington, D.C. where she was responsible for all aspects of education for the 3,000 nurses in the Navy. It was also during this tour that she was promoted to the rank of Captain. Until her retirement, in June 1990, she served as the Head of the Staff Education and Training Department at the Naval Hospital, San Diego, the Navy’s largest medical and teaching facility. Sandy and her staff of 17 managed some 40 educational programs for all levels of staff–military and civilian…a mere 4,000 folks.

Sandy has been published in the American Journal of Nursing, the Journal of Nursing Staff Development, the Reader’s Digest and several other journals in the medical field. Widely respected for her expertise in the field of staff development, she has presented at numerous military and national professional nursing conferences. She also served on the steering committee to establish the National Nursing Staff Development Organization and served as the organization’s first Treasurer.

Captain Holmes is authorized to wear the following military decorations: Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, (two awards); Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, (two awards); Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation; and the National Defense Ribbon.

Captain Holmes resides in Escondido, California with her dog Ebi and collection of Koi fish. Her husband of 34 years is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. She enjoys frequent visits from her son “Captain” Kirk Holmes and his bride to be Becca Roberts.