Zsolt T Stockinger

CAPT Stockinger was a native of Auckland, New Zealand. His parents immigrated to New Zealand when the Soviet Union invaded Hungary, and later moved to the United States. CAPT Stockinger graduated from high school in New Zealand and from college at Columbia University. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees were in physiological psychology, a field he continued to study as a Ph.D. candidate. He completed his graduate studies at Columbia and attended medical school at the University of Alabama.

He reported for active duty in 1998 following his residency, and in 2004 completed a U.S. Navy sponsored fellowship in surgical critical care and trauma surgery at Charity Hospital and Tulane University in New Orleans.

Stockinger’s career is notable for multiple deployments and missions, including East Timor, Laos, Iraq (two 6-month tours), Pakistan, Mexico, Mauritius, Afghanistan, and Haiti; as well as stateside clinical assignments, principally at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. He deployed with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Marines, characterized by extensive work in field medical support.

As Deputy Commander to the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute in 2006, he established what was then the U.S. military's largest medical simulation center for Role 1 and Role 2 care. This was also incorporated into the Combat Casualty Care Course. CAPT Stockinger helped to establish the Joint Enroute Care Course at Fort Rucker. He expanded opportunities for Brooke Army Medical Center staff for Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses, and established the ATLS program at Wilford Hall.

In 2011-2012, CAPT Stockinger served as Chief of Trauma for the NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar. In this role, he provided support to the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division through direct patient care. Working closely with the 82nd Airborne Division Surgeon, he helped successfully transition Afghanistan National Army (ANA) personnel to a local ANA Hospital. In 2013, as NATO Regional Command (Southwest) Surgeon and Command Surgeon, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force-Afghanistan, CAPT Stockinger coordinated with Task Force Medical to provide optimal support to Army medical units throughout his area of responsibility.

CAPT Stockinger was assigned to the Joint Trauma System (JTS) in 2013. He initially served as the Division Director for Performance Improvement, and was subsequently promoted to Director of the JTS in 2015. Under his direction, all DoD combat trauma Clinical Practice Guidelines (evidence-based guidelines to improve patient care across the military) were updated and new ones created.

CAPT Stockinger was board certified in Critical Care Surgery. His personal decorations included the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 gold stars), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3 gold stars), Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and other unit and campaign awards.