Lt. Col. Robert "Jody" Shipley

LTC Robert “Jody” Shipley is a native of Greene County, Tennessee. He graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in History and Biology in 1995, a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 1998, a Graduate Certification in Health Care Leadership in 2001, and a Master’s of Nursing Administration in 2002. He commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps in 2002 within the United States Army Reserve. 

LTC Shipley’s military training and education includes the Officer Basic Course, Air Assault School, Captain’s Career Course, Combined Arms Course, Joint Operations Medical Manager’s Course, Airborne School, Enroute Critical Care Course, Executive Leadership Skills Course, Command & General Staff College, Defense Strategy Course, and the Medical Strategic Leadership Program.  

LTC Shipley’s first duty assignment was within the 4212^th US Army Hospital, Kingsport, TN, assigned as a Medical Platoon Leader.  In 2004, he served as Head Nurse – Aviation Health Services, 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY, and in 2005 as the Head Nurse – Orthopedic Services, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY.  From 2006-2010, he served as the Training & Operations Officer (S3) for the 7244^th Medical Support Unit, Kingsport, TN.  In the spring of 2010, LTC Shipley returned to Active Duty, assigned as a Charge Nurse – Emergency Department, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI.  He deployed to Iraq in 2011 as the Assistant Head Nurse/Flight Nurse – Emergency Medical Section, Task Force 86^th Combat Support Hospital.  He later served in the Philippines as a Trauma / Critical Care Trainer / Flight Nurse in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2012.  Upon his return, he served as the Clinical Nurse OIC- Emergency Services, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI.  In 2013, LTC Shipley was assigned to Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC where he served as Nursing Supervisor and later as Assistant Clinical Nurse OIC – Emergency Department.  He deployed again to Iraq in 2015 as a Medevac Enroute Critical Care Nurse, 185^th Theater Aviation Brigade.  From 2016-2018, LTC Shipley served as the Battalion Executive Officer, 3^rd Medical Recruiting Battalion, Fort Knox, KY.  He was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center, HI in 2018, where he served as the Nursing Director, Deputy Command of Medical Services until 2020 and later as the Assistant Deputy Commander of Quality and Safety. He was the Battalion Commander, Troop Battalion, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft Hood/Cavazos, Texas from 2021-2023. After completion of Battalion Command, LTC Shipley reported to West Point, NY where he joined the team at Keller Army Community Hospital as Deputy Commander, Quality and Safety.       

LTC Shipley’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal (2 Stars), and numerous campaign ribbons and service awards.  He also earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, Army Aviation Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge as well as the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3).