Recruiting and Accessions

Lieutenant Commander Marion Sams, SPHR

Lieutenant Commander Sams is a native of Florida. She graduated in 2006 from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences. She also has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of West Florida completed in 2011. In 2012 she completed an internship at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center in Portsmouth Virginia, and went on to earn her second Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of West Florida. LCDR also holds a 2022 Master’s in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, a 2018 Graduate Certificate in Project Management from Webster University, and a 2023 Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership from the University of Memphis. She was certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources in 2018. LCDR is also a 2022 JPME I and 2023 JPME II graduate.

LCDR Sams currently serves as the Commanding Officer of Navy Reserve Center Chattanooga. Her previous assignment was Navy Personnel Command, PERS 834 – Officer Performance Branch where she was assigned from 2021 to 2023. LCDR Sams transferred from Medical Service Corps to Human Resource in 2021. LCDR Sams completed 8 years enlisted service in the Navy reserves before commission. She earned her commission as a Medical Service Corps Office specializing in Healthcare Administration in February 2013. She was a Training Officer at NOSC Miami and then volunteered for recruiting duty in March 2015 and was assigned to NRD Nashville as an Officer Recruiter for the Greater Memphis Area. She served as the Officer in Charge of Talent Acquisition and Onboarding Center Blues City from 2016 to 2019. After the pilot program dissolved, she served as an Outreach and Diversity Program Manager at Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, TN where she helped establish the new CNRC, N10 department. 

LCDR Sams’ personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), Meritorious Unit Commendation (4), Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medal (3), Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ “M” Device, National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. LCDR Sams is supported by her husband Kenneth and their two lovely daughters Rachel and Lauren. LCDR led as the National Naval Officer Association Millington Chapter President from 2020 to 2023. She is the National Naval Officers Association 2021 VADM Manson Brown Outstanding Chapter President Award recipient. In 2023 LCDR was awarded the CAPT Sallee P. Kafer Mentoring Award and the CAPT Charles L. Tompkins Service Award by the National Naval Officers Association.