As Pharmacy Chief Professional Officer, Rear Admiral (RDML) Kelly Battese serves and leads the largest professional category of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). In this role, he advises the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the recruitment, assignment, deployment, retention, and career development of pharmacy officers and currently serves as Chair of the USPHS CPO Board.  RDML Battese’s mission is to advance the role of pharmacists both within and beyond traditional pharmacy settings, and he is deeply committed to pharmacy leadership development, officer wellbeing, and mentoring.

RDML Battese began his career with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 2005 as a clinical pharmacist in Lawrence, Kansas. Over the last 20 years, his leadership and dedication led him to several key positions within the IHS Oklahoma City Area, eventually leading him into the role of CEO at the Haskell Indian Health Center.  He currently serves as the Director of the Division of Commissioned Personnel Support at Indian Health Service (IHS) Headquarters. RDML Battese is active in shaping the future of healthcare leadership. He is a faculty member for the IHS Pharmacy Leadership Training Course and a member of the IHS Health IT Modernization Executive Committee. He has previously served as Vice-Chair of the National Council of Chief Executive Officers.

In addition to his service in the IHS, RDML Battese cultivated his leadership depth in public health emergency response. He served on USPHS Rapid Deployment Force 4 (RDF-4) for 14 years, ultimately serving as team commander. His extensive deployment experience includes supporting border missions, hurricane responses, and Remote Area Medical (RAM) missions.

RDML Battese graduated from Tabor College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kansas, and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from Southern Nazarene University.

RDML Battese and his wife, Rachel, have been happily married for 22 years and reside in Kansas with their three children, Alayna (19), Natalie (17), and Tanner (14). He enjoys spending time with family and friends and cherishes moments in the great outdoors.