MILLINGTON, Tenn. – When NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean upon their return to earth from their flight around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors stood ready to welcome them home.
Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Campbell, from Endwell, New York, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Campbell, a 1997 graduate of Maine-Endwell Senior High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Fleet Surgical Team 1, whose role was to provide contingency surgical capabilities for the Artemis II crew back on the USS John P. Murtha.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Endwell.
“Growing up in upstate New York, competing in both football and Science Olympiad taught me early on how to contribute to a common team goal,” Campbell said. “Through college, medical school, and into my military career, I've continued to build on those foundational lessons. I’ve found that success requires balancing teamwork and personal sacrifice with the drive to be a self-starter, and it is that combination that has always propelled me forward.”
Campbell joined the Navy 10 years ago. Today, Campbell serves as a flight surgeon.
“I joined the Navy because I anticipated unique opportunities to practice medicine in ways simply not possible in the civilian sector,” Campbell said. “Serving as a flight surgeon, a Navy general surgeon, and supporting the historic Artemis II mission have been incredible testaments to that. I was also inspired by my grandfather, who served as a Navy quartermaster during World War II. He was a phenomenal role model who taught me the value of taking an intrepid approach to life, and I am proud to carry on his legacy of service.”
NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts – NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen – on a nearly 10-day flight around the moon in the Orion space capsule, marking the first time in more than 50 years that humans journeyed to deep space. The crew splashed down just after 5 p.m. (PDT) on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, where Navy sailors who had been training for this recovery mission were waiting aboard USS John P. Murtha.
Fleet Surgical Team 1 is a specialized, rapid-response US Navy medical unit that provides advanced Role 2 surgical, resuscitative, and critical care aboard amphibious ships. Primarily supporting U.S. 3rd Fleet, they offer trauma care for combat casualties, disaster relief, and specialized mission support, recently operating on the USS John P. Murtha.
Campbell has had many opportunities to achieve success during his military service.
“Supporting Artemis II has certainly been a unique and historic experience, and being selected as one of only two individuals in the Navy to pursue advanced training in plastic surgery is a deeply humbling milestone,” Campbell said. “However, my greatest satisfaction comes from being able to give back. Mentoring medical students and junior residents as they balance the early stages of surgical training with navigating their careers as naval officers is something I find profoundly rewarding.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
“Contributing to a cause much greater than myself as a member of the U.S. Navy is a tremendous honor,” Campbell said. “Not surprisingly, I experienced a similar sentiment reverberate among the Artemis II crew and NASA support team.”
Campbell is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I am eternally grateful to my parents for instilling in me from a young age a strong work ethic. I also cannot thank my wife, Laura, enough for her never-ending support, her everlasting vote of confidence, and the sacrifices she makes that allow me to pursue my dreams,” Campbell said. “The sacrifices my entire family endures so that I can serve our country in this capacity are never lost on me.”