Colin Chinn

Joint Staff Surgeon

The Joint Staff

A native of San Francisco, Rear Adm. Colin Chinn graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in public health and received a master’s degree in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in 1982. After his commissioning as an ensign in 1981, he attended the Medical College of Virginia through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program and earned a Doctor of Medicine in 1985. He completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Naval Hospital Oakland, serving as chief medical resident in 1990. Chinn completed gastroenterology fellowship training at Naval Medical Center San Diego in 1993.

Since completing his medical training, Chinn has served his country both domestically and overseas in a number of roles, including as director of Tricare Region West/Pacific, chief of the Navy Medical Corps, United States Pacific Command surgeon and as the dual-hatted director of the Research & Development Directorate (J9) of the Defense Health Agency and U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command deputy commander. His most recent assignment was as the acting deputy director of the Defense Health Agency. His accomplished career as a doctor and leader with the U.S. Navy makes him a vital asset as he strives to help the Military Health System deliver an integrated system of readiness and health.

Chinn is the Joint Staff surgeon at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He serves as the chief medical advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing advice to the chairman, the Joint Staff and the combatant commanders. He coordinates all issues related to health services to include operational medicine, force health protection and readiness among the combatant commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the services.

Chinn is a Fleet Marine Force qualified officer. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medical (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various unit and service awards.

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