CAPT Ken Radford,
U.S. Navy
Captain Kennett "Ken" D. Radford, NC, USN is a native of Minnesota. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marquette University (2001), Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Georgetown University (2010), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (2017), Diploma in Mountain Medicine (2021), and is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (2022). Radford serves currently as the Director of Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River.
Radford enlisted in the Navy in 1994 and served aboard two ballistic nuclear submarines earning the Enlisted Submarine Warfare qualification in 1995. He completed the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program earning a NROTC nurse option scholarship and commissioned in 2001 as an Ensign, Navy Nurse Corps.
Radford has served in various positions within Navy Medicine to include Staff Nurse in Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Intensive Care at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA earning the Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN) designation. Intensive Care staff nurse, Naval Hospital Guam and completing Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCAT) training and certification. Staff Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. He was the Department Head, Anesthesiology, Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy then Assistant Professor and Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program, USU, and as the Executive Officer, NMLPDC and holds CRNA practice credentials at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort Meade, MD.
Operationally, Radford has served as a Deck Seaman, USS Alabama (SSBN 731) and USS Michigan (SSBN 727); Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Fleet Hospital-15 for Operation Iraqi Freedom; Staff Nurse, Intensive Care, Pacific Partnership, USNS Mercy (TAH-19); Critical Care Air Transport Team, Naval Hospital Guam; CRNA, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom earning the Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO) qualification; and Trauma-Critical Care Educator-Global Health Engagement, African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Program, Ghana, Africa.
Academically, Radford served as Assistant Professor and Director of Research, USU Nurse Anesthesia Program and researched the effects of anesthesia on traumatic memory while mentoring numerous doctoral evidence-based projects. Remaining at USU, he served as the Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program and coordinated operational readiness training in Maritime, Mountain, and Cold Weather Medicine for Graduate School of Nursing and School of Medicine students.
His professional activities include Adjunct Assistant Professor, USU; President-Elect Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA); member American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). His prior activities include Specialty Leader, Nursing Research; Head, Anesthesia Research Interest Group, Tri-Service Nursing Research Program (TSNRP); Advisory Council, TNSRP; District-Director, MANA.
Radford’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, MHS Senior Nurse Leadership Excellence Award, AMSUS Nursing Award, Outstanding Junior Investigator, Distinguished Uniformed Faculty, Ada Sue Henshaw Outstanding Dissertation, and Board of Regents Award (USU).
Command Master Chief Rick J. LaCosse, Jr.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Master Chief Petty Officer LaCosse enlisted in the United States Navy in July 2007. He completed Recruit Training at Great Lakes, Illinois, and graduated from Hospital Corpsman “A” School in 2008.
He has extensive U.S. Marine Corps operational experience, serving with 3D Marine Division, 2D Marine Division, I Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and currently with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. His operational roles include Field Medical Technician, Scout Sniper Team Corpsman, Senior Line, Leading Petty Officer, Leading Chief Petty Officer, Activity Manning Manager, and Senior Enlisted Leader, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Black Sea Rotational Force.
Shore assignments include Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, Maryland, where he developed over 320 personnel in Staff Education and Training; Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, serving as Recruit Division Commander and Medical Liaison during the challenges of COVID-19 response; and Naval Leadership and Ethics Command, San Diego, California, where he authored the Navy’s new Enlisted Leader Development Framework as a Master Naval Leader Development Facilitator. He currently serves as Command Master Chief, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.
He was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 2017, Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2021, and Master Chief Petty Officer in 2025. He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 231/Green), a two-time graduate of the Executive Medical Department Enlisted Course (2019 and 2024), and certified through the Master, My Navy Coaching Course. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Human Health Sciences and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
His personal awards include five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and two Meritorious Volunteer Service Medals, along with numerous unit and campaign awards. He has earned the Enlisted Fleet Marine Force Warfare qualification and is a Master Training Specialist.