As the TRA members left the carrier, there was more to come. The departure from the carrier was particularly significant for US Naval Reserve Flight Surgeon Capt. Gary P. Kearney MC USNR, a new TRA Board Member, who commemorated over 20 years of sevice with his retirement ceremony as he departed the carrier. TRA members assembled for dinner at the Breezy Point Officer's Club, and now Dr. Kearney, MC USNR Ret (right), spoke passionately of his time in the Naval service bringing to life the experiences of the young pilots he has worked with over the years. . .

A native of Piedmont, CA, Captain Gary P. Kearney, MC USNR (2105) received his B.A. degree in biology with honors from Northwestern University in 1961. Commissioned in June, he entered the Ensing 1915 Program. He received his Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1965 from the University of California School of Medicine. He served his rotating internship at the San Diego Naval Hospital in 1965 and '66.

On graduation as a Naval Flight Surgeon, in Pensacola, FL, his first fleet assignment was as the squadron flight surgeon for VAQ-33, an electronic counter-measure squadron at Quonset Point, RI. VAQ-33 sent detachemets of A1 sky raiders to the Pacific Fleet serving off the coast of Vietnam.

While at Quonset Point, LCDR Kearney was awarded his first Navy Commendation Medal after saving an Aviation Electronics Technician from drowning during an underwater training exercise. After completeing active duty as Lieutenant Commander, Quonset Point Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War, '66- '69, he completed his surgical and urologic residency in the Harvard Program in Urology (Longwood area) Boston, MA..

He entered the Navy active reserve as a base flight surgeon at the Naval Air Station in So. Weymouth, MA in 1969 and serve until 1973. From 1973 to 1981 Captain Kearney remained in the inactive reserves until resuming his active Navy reservist status in 1981. For the next decade he provided contributory support to the Newport Naval Hospital, Newport, RI as part of the Naval Reserve Fleet Hospitals 250 CBTZ-07 detachment 1. He provided urologic consult services directly to approximately 3000 military and their dependents. This direct care support resulted in significant savings for which Captain Kearney received his second Navy commendation medal. In 1990 he was appointed Chief of Surgery at Navy Reserve Fleet Hospital 250CBTZ07.

Recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991, Captain Kearney served as Chief of Urology at the Naval Hospital in Groton, CT. Until retirement in 1999, he continued to remain in the active reserves serving as a consultant to the Naval Hospital in Groton and the Naval Reserve Hospital, Portsmouth in the PRIMUS Program designed for academic physicians.

He is the recipient of two Navy commedations and is authorized to wear the Naval Defense Service Medal for Meritorious Unit Citation ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

In civilian life he is the principle of Longwood Urological Associates in Boston, MA. He serves as Chief of Urology at the New England Baptist Hospital, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School as well as President of the Private Staff, and senior surgeon at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, a major Harvard teaching hospital. Capt. Kearney resides in Chestnut Hill, MA with his wife Susan and their four children: Michael (married to Alexia Gallet), Alison, Shanon and Christian.