Rear Adm. Joan Hunter, USPHS (Ret), served 29 years in the U.S. Public Health Service. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from George Mason University and a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Prior to retirement, Hunter was an assistant surgeon general, senior advisor to the Department of Health and Human Services, assistant secretary for Health and the U.S. Surgeon General, and was the former director of USPHS Commissioned Corps Headquarters. In a previous DoD assignment, Hunter served as an assistant joint surgeon, National Guard Bureau, where she designed and directed the National Guard psychological health program. She received numerous awards for her outstanding service, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service.

In her private life, Hunter is a past president of the Maine State Society and board member of the Maine State Society Foundation in Washington, D.C. She is currently a member of the board of directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness/Maine and a member of MOAA's Southern Maine Chapter.