Cmdr. John W. Saenz
Officer In Charge, Fleet Surgical Team FOUR
10 June 2025
CDR Saenz was born and raised just outside of Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Natural Science with a BS in Human Biology in 2002. He was awarded the Navy’s Health Professions Scholarship Program and commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Reserve while he continued his education at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, earning an MD in 2007.
LT Saenz was commissioned on Active Duty 2007 and began Family Medicine residency training at Naval Hospital Jacksonville later that year. He completed residency in 2010 and reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272 as the Senior Medical Officer in October 2010.
Shortly after arrival at MWSS-272, LT Saenz deployed for training at Enhanced Mohave Viper (EMV) in 29 Palms, CA. In early 2011, LT Saenz deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with MWSS-272 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. One year following their return, LT Saenz deployed with MWSS-272 to EMV in 2012.
LT Saenz then served as Medical Officer for Marine Wing Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 until his transfer to Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in 2013.
LCDR Saenz served as Family Medicine Faculty for the Camp Lejeune Family Medicine Program from 2013 to 2014, mentoring and teaching 20 resident physicians.
In July of 2014, LCDR Saenz was given a hot fill billet to Sasebo, Japan, to serve as Senior Medical Officer and Department Head of Primary Care for Naval Branch Health Clinic Sasebo. While stationed in Sasebo, he helped coordinate medical care with the ships of CTF-76 as the Medical Liaison Officer.
In 2016, LCDR Saenz returned to North Carolina at Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, serving as the Chair of the Medical Executive Committee and the Convening Authority for Medical Evaluation Boards. His actions reduced the number of expired LIMDU cases to zero and shortened the processing time of Physical Evaluation Boards from 9 months to 2 months.
In 2018, LCDR Saenz served on the USS BLUE RIDGE as Senior Medical Officer and Department Head of the “Finest in the Fleet.” During this period, he brought the department into a Fully Ready status and successfully completed multiple inspections as well as three successful deployments in the Western Pacific.
From July 2021 to March 2023, CDR Saenz served as the Department Head of Primary Care and the Senior Medical Officer of Naval Branch Health Clinic, Little Creek, VA. He served as the Chair of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth’s Long-term Opioid Therapeutic Safety Committee, a member of the Credentials Review Committee, a member of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and preceptor for 20 Transitional Year interns from all three Military Branches.
CDR Saenz is currently assigned as Officer-in-Charge of Fleet Surgical Team FOUR and CATF Surgeon for CPR-4.