JFK Sailor selected for career-changing opportunity

JFK Sailor selected for career-changing opportunity

by Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Milham, Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Wilber and Ensign Dylan Barron - PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

21 April 2026 VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES -- After more than a decade of service, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Derrick Bender has been selected for the Navy's competitive Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), a commissioning pathway that marks a significant milestone in his career.

The San Diego native will remain on active duty while attending Old Dominion University to pursue a full-time master's degree in public health beginning this July.

"It's a life-changing opportunity," Bender said. "Not just for me, but for my family."

Bender says the HSCP is one of the Navy's lesser-known commissioning programs, offering Sailors and civilians a chance to enter the Medical, Dental, or Medical Service Corps, while completing advanced education. For Bender, that path leads to becoming an environmental health officer, a role focused on safeguarding the health of entire populations.

Environmental health officers conduct air and soil sampling, perform habitability inspections, and oversee food safety operations across U.S. Navy installations. It is work that happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt across the fleet.

Bender said that HSCP is one of the commissioning tracks that can be underutilized, and encourages Sailors interested in commissioning to do their research, work with their career counselor and explore all their options.

"Most people think of doctors or nurses when they hear 'medical officer,'" said Bender. "But within the Medical Service Corps, there are a lot of opportunities that people just don't know about."

Bender's interest in environmental health did not come overnight; it was built across years of hands-on experience as a hospital corpsman specializing in preventive medicine. From deployments to Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, to working at Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit Five in San Diego, he gained firsthand exposure to the field he now hopes to lead.

"That experience gave me the blueprint of where I wanted to go," he said.

Along the way, he worked alongside environmental health officers, conducted health surveys, and supported public health initiatives, all of which helped shape his long-term goals.

Despite years of experience, Bender's academic journey didn't begin until much later in his career.

"I didn't finish my associate's degree until about eight years in [the Navy]," he said. "I was a late starter."

That changed after arriving on board Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).

Surrounded by motivated peers and junior Sailors pursuing their own higher education, Bender found the motivation he needed to work towards his educational goals.

"I saw people around me getting their degrees, getting their master's, and it lit a fire," Bender said.

What followed was a focused, all-in effort. Bender began working on his bachelor's degree in October 2024, and he completed the degree within a year, all while balancing his coursework with his Navy responsibilities. With that milestone complete, he set his sights on the next step - commissioning.

"What stands out most about Petty Officer Bender is his growth," said Cmdr. Ana Solis, John F. Kennedy's senior medical officer. "His journey shows that it's never too late to set a goal and pursue it with purpose. His selection to HSCP speaks to his resilience, discipline and determination to succeed. I couldn't be more proud of his success."

Bender credits much of his success to the environment aboard John F. Kennedy, particularly within the ship's medical department.

"They really push you to grow," said Bender. "Not just technically, but professionally. Whether that's leadership, education or just becoming a better Sailor."

From mentorship to encouragement, that culture of development played a key role in helping him navigate the demanding application process, which included multiple appraisal interviews with officers in his desired field.

"I had a lot of people willing to sit down with me, talk through my goals, and make sure I was ready," he said.

While professional growth played a major role, Bender said one of his biggest motivations came from home.

"I have a daughter, and I want to be that example for her," he said.

That sense of responsibility fueled his drive to pursue education, take on new challenges and ultimately compete for a program that has the potential to reshape his career.

"Bender's work ethic and drive have had a positive impact not only on his own career, but on the Sailors around him," said Solis. "He leads by example. His success reinforces what's possible when you commit to your goals and put in the work."

As Bender prepares for his classes to begin, he is looking forward to a new set of challenges, embracing the next chapter of his career with the same determination that brought him to this point.