- Mary Joan Nielubowicz
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Mary Joan Nielubowicz 
Rear Admiral Mary Joan NielubowiczBorn Shenandoah, Pennsylvania Died Fairfax, Virginia Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Navy Years of service 1951-1987 Rank Rear Admiral Commands held Director of the United States Navy Nurse Corps Awards Legion of Merit (2), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal (3), National Defense Medal with bronze star and the Humanitarian Service Medal Other work Chairman of the Veterans Administration's Committee for Women Veterans, board of directors of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, board of directors of Vinson Hall Corporation[1] Retired Rear Admiral Mary Joan Nielubowicz was the Director of the Navy Nurse Corps from 1983 to 1987.[2]
Contents
Early life
Mary Joan Nielubowicz was born on 5 February 1929 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Ursula Nielubowicz and graduated from Shenandoah Catholic High School.[3] She earned a nursing diploma from Misericordia Hospital, Philadelphia, in 1950.[2]
Nielubowicz joined the Navy Nurse Corps in 1951. While in the Nurse Corps, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado in 1961 and a master of science degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965.[2]
She served in areas around the globe, including Portsmouth, Virginia, Corona, California, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Annapolis, Maryland, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Iwakuni, Japan, Cherry Point, North Carolina, Guam and Long Beach, California.[3] Billets of increasing responsibility included that of senior nurse at the branch clinic in Iwakuni, Japan in 1967. In 1979 she became director of nursing services at the Naval Regional Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia.[2]
She became director of the Navy Nurse Corps in 1983, and was promoted to the rank of Commodore (equivalent to today's Rear Admiral (lower half). In 1985 the rank was changed to Rear Admiral.).[2] She served concurrently as deputy commander for Personnel Management and later as deputy commander for Health Care Operations.[2]
In 1986, Navy Nurse Corps members of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) established the Mary J. Nielubowicz Essay Award in recognition of her outstanding support and encouragement of active and reserve nurses.
Admiral Nielubowicz died at her home in Fairfax, Virginia on 24 March 2008. She was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 21 May 2008.[3]
See also
- Navy Nurse Corps
- Women in the United States Navy
References
- ^ Schudel, Matt (2008-04-24). "Adm. Mary J. Nielubowicz, 79; Top Navy Nurse". Washington Post: pp. B07. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303547.html
- ^ a b c d e f Godson, Susan H. (2001). Serving Proudly: A history of Women in the U.S. Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-317-6.
- ^ a b c "Rear Admiral Mary J. Nielubowicz March 24, 2008". REPUBLICAN & Herald. 04/12/2008. http://www.republicanherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19478432&BRD=2626&PAG=461&dept_id=529072&rfi=6
Further reading
- Sterner, Doris M. (1997). In and Out of Harm's Way: A history of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Seattle, WA: Peanut Butter Publishing. ISBN 0897167066.
- Godson, Susan H. (2001). Serving Proudly: A history of Women in the U.S. Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-317-6.
External links
- Nurses and the U.S. Navy -- Overview and Special Image Selection Naval Historical Center
- Mary J. Nielubowicz
Preceded by
Frances Shea-BuckleyDirector, Navy Nurse Corps
1983-1987Succeeded by
Mary Fields HallCategories:- 1929 births
- American nurses
- Living people
- People from Pennsylvania
- Women in the United States Navy
- United States Navy admirals
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