U.S. Army Maj. Robin Lea was promoted to lieutenant colonel in a May 8 ceremony at Moncrief Army Command Hospital, Fort Jackson, S.C.

A native of Suffolk, she graduated in May 1998 as a distinguished military graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, pre-medicine and a minor in chemistry. She was commissioned as a U.S. Army officer in the Medical Service Corps. She later earned her master’s degree in health services administration from Central Michigan University.

She has completed military courses including AMEDD Officer Basic 1998, AMEDD Officer Advanced 2004, Patient Administration Course in 2004, and Intermediate Level Education in 2008.

Some of her career highlights include Alpha Company, 61st ASMB Platoon Leader, 1st Medical Brigade and Battalion S2/S3, 61st ASMB, 1st Medical Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas; Executive Officer, 127th Forward Surgical Team, and Headquarters Detachment Company Commander of the 52nd Medical Evacuation Battalion, Korea; Chief of Patient Administration, Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, 3rd Infantry Division Patient Administrator, Fort Stewart, Ga.; Deputy Chief, Patient Administration and Chief of Patient Accountability Branch; Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Chief, Patient Administrator National Guard Bureau, Chief Surgeon’s Office, Arlington; and Deputy Chief of Patient Administration US ARCENT, Shaw Air Force Base.

She currently serves as the chief of patient administration at Moncrief Army Community Hospital.

She has 16 years of dedicated active-duty military service, including deployments to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Qatar in support of USARCENT and a Detainee Operations Mission in Afghanistan. Her military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon. She also has been awarded the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Lea is married to Vance Lea, and they have three children, Vance Jr., Jayden and Jada.

Her parents are Walter and Joyce Williams, of Suffolk. Her sisters are Capt. Joycelyn R. Williams and 2nd Lt. Ivy C. Williams.