Spotlighting the Career of LCDR Dustin Hampton
Biography Contributed by: LT Alyssa Givens
This Nursing Spotlight is brought to you by CAPT Amy Valderrama, CDR Nichole Vetter, LCDR Allison Gallen, and LT Alyssa Givens
LCDR Dustin Hampton began his military career as an Infantry machine gunner in the Marnie Corps (MC) in 1995. He quickly moved through the ranks, challenging himself to advance his career and knowledge. LCDR Hampton left the MC and pursued his nursing degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. After graduating in 2006 with his Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, he was commissioned in the U.S. Airforce (AF) in Las Vegas, NV as a medical/surgical ICU nurse. During his time in the AF he provided care to critically ill patients, managed nursing staff, and oversaw medical readiness activities for enlisted personnel. In the course of serving with the AF, LCDR Hampton noticed a female standing in woodland camo with an 8-point cover, which reminded him of his days in the MC. His curiosity prompted him to speak with her and he learned that she was a USPHS officer detailed to the U.S. Coast Guard. The information was so intriguing to him that he began to research how to become a USPHS officer. He was subsequently commissioned in 2012 and stationed with Indian Health Service in Tahlequah, OK. In 2014, he accepted a position with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a consumer safety officer. He received training in regulatory compliance, performed investigations of biomedical research monitoring and devices, and conducted audits on recalled products.
After 2 years at FDA, LCDR Hampton wanted to get back to using more of his clinical skills and found a position with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a Field Medical Coordinator. He now travels to different facilities conducting inspections to ensure compliance based on the contracted agreement the facilities have with ICE. In addition, LCDR Hampton provides clinical oversight of hospitalized detainees through case management, assists with transfers of detainees, and serves as a clinical expert, providing consultation and coordination of medical services. He enjoys his current position because he is able to mentor and teach nurses in small county facilities throughout the Midwest. "There are Licensed Practical Nurses with limited experience, in charge and working by themselves in small county jails. I like being able to guide and encourage them to further their education." LCDR Hampton is a true mentor and likes helping people find their career path; he encourages and welcomes any officers that are interested in ICE to contact him directly for job announcements that come out frequently.
LCDR Hampton has participated in deployments with the USPHS, including to West Africa for the Ebola outbreak, providing direct nursing care. In addition, he was able to use his experience as a compliance officer on the safety team where he was responsible for conducting safety walks in the hot zone. During his most recent deployment to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, he was integral in setting up a medical shelter for those displaced and needing medical care. He was also asked to team up with the National Guard in order to provide medical care and medications to those affected in the remote areas with limited ac-cess on the island.
LCDR Hampton continually shows his commitment to USPHS through his many outreach efforts, including being a part of Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA), region VII. He has lectured to future nurses at multiple colleges teaching them about USPHS, his experiences with ICE, and his deployment to West Africa. He finds many opportunities to speak to younger generations about health and wellness, always finding a way to introduce the USPHS and how it contributes to the welfare of our nation. "I always try to reach out to the younger kids - they are the next generation of people that will be making and changing policies to better the healthcare system."
LCDR Hampton has many experiences and participated in numerous trainings that have paved the way to his fulfilling career as a nurse and USPHS officer. His advice to those seeking nursing and USPHS careers is, "Don’t be afraid to move and don’t anchor yourself to one place or you could be missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime. I loved my job and life in Tahlequah, but if I had never tried something different in the Corps, I would not have gained the great experiences I have today.
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