10/09/2018

Sara Bustamante, OD, FAAO, EMBA (Navy)

President-elect

Commander Sara M. Bustamante, OD, FAAO, EMBA

Medical Service Corps, United States Navy

CDR Bustamante commissioned in the Navy in 2004 after graduating with Honors from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry.  Her duty stations include Beaufort, SC, Virginia Beach, VA, Meridian, MS, Quantico VA, and Camp Lejeune, NC.  In 2008, she graduated from flight school as the Navy’s 18th Aerospace Optometrist, earning her “Wings of Gold” and the MSC Director’s Award of Excellence for outstanding performance.  She has served in various leadership roles to include Department Head, Deputy Director, and Director.  Most recently, she served as the Deputy Director for Strategy and Operations for the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Camp Lejeune and the Coastal North Carolina Market.  CDR Bustamante has held positions outside of Optometry such as the Command Managed Equal Opportunity Program Manager, Secretary of the National Capital Region Federal Optometric Society, and Lead Facilitator of NCR Patient Centered Caring Communication Initiative. In September 2022, CDR Bustamante graduated with her EMBA degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.  She is an Executive Board Member of the Armed Forces Optometric Society, a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, and affiliated with the American Optometric Association.  CDR Bustamante is married to Major David ‘Ron’ Bustamante, a Cyber Officer in the Virginia Army National Guard. They have four children, David, Leland, Magnolia, and Sebastian.