November 21, 2013- Albany, GA- On Thursday, November 21, 2013, Albany Technical College's Student Fellowship for Christians (SFC) organization will host a Thanksgiving Luncheon from 12Noon to 1pm in the Kirkland Conference Center.
Guest speaker for the luncheon will be Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Goodson, United States Navy (retired), Nurse Corps.
Lieutenant Commander Charles H. Goodson enlisted in the Navy as a Radioman in December of 1984. After completing Boot Camp, Radioman "A" school and "C" school in San Diego he transferred with his new bride to his first duty station in the fall of 1985 to Barbers Point Hawaii, reporting to the air squadron FAIRECONRON THREE (VQ3). VQ3 was an arduous command with multiple deployments, but afforded many opportunities for professional growth and leadership.
In 1990, he transferred back to San Diego attending an advanced "C" school en route to the Teletype Repair Shop at the Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) located at 32nd Street Naval Base. While at SIMA he was advanced to Petty Officer First Class and was selected to supervise the Internal Combat Systems Supply Department. While acting as a Departmental Career Counselor and teaching groups about education benefits he applied and was selected to participate in the Enlisted Education Advancement Program (EEAP).
This Navy education program afforded him the opportunity to transfer in 1993 to attend Mesa Community College, San Diego full time for 24 months. He graduated with an Associate's degree in Human Biology in 1995 and was transferred to Navy Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS WESTPAC) Guam. There he served as the Leading Petty Officer of Traffic Division.
In 1996, as a First Class Petty Officer, he was selected to participate in the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP) and transferred back to San Diego to attend San Diego State University (SDSU). He graduated from SDSU in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Public Health Nursing Certificate, and California Nursing License and received his commission as an Ensign.
Upon completion of Naval Officer Indoctrination School at Newport, RI in 1999, Lieutenant Commander Goodson reported to Naval Hospital Guam. During his tenure in Guam, he served as Charge Nurse of the Medical/Surgical Ward, Charge Nurse of the Inpatient Psychiatric Ward and Division Officer of Internal Medicine. It was during the two years in Internal Medicine that he acquired the necessary hours of practice to sit for the National Certification Test to become a Certified Diabetic Educator. For his work with citizens of Guam he was inducted into the Ancient Order of the Chamorri, becoming an honorary Chamorro.
In 2003, he transferred to Naval Hospital Pensacola where he deployed to Cuba in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the Joint Task Force/Joint Medical Group. In Pensacola he served as Charge Nurse of the Medical/Surgical Ward, was TAD to NBHC Pascagoula, Mississippi serving as Clinic Manager and after Hurricane Katrina was moved to the Naval Aviation Tactical Training Center (NATTC) branch clinic to serve as the Clinic Manager.
From Pensacola, he transferred in 2006 to Naval Hospital Rota, Spain serving as the Clinic Manager for the Primary Care Clinic and also managed a Diabetic Clinic and Anticoagulation Clinic. While in Spain, he again deployed to Cuba to support the Joint Task Force/Joint Medical Group. Other duties included serving as a member of the NASA Space Shuttle Recovery Team, coordinating the Command Duty Officer watch-bill, being the Board of Directors facilitator, leading Lean Six Sigma projects and serving as the Senior Leader of the Controlled Substance Inventory Board. While in Spain, he completed a Masters in Human Relations with the University of Oklahoma.
In January 2010, he reported to Naval Branch Health Clinic, Albany, where he has served as the Clinic Manager and Administrative Department Head. For the last two years, he served as the Officer in Charge of the clinic, overseeing all aspects of the delivered healthcare.
LCDR Goodson retired from active duty on September 1st, 2013 and is now the Director of the Marine and Family Programs onboard the Albany Marine Corp Base. Mr. Goodson is married and has two sons.
Albany Tech's chapter of SFC exists to promote a sense of civic and professional responsibility, while embracing students with fellowship, prayer, and empowerment. Working within the Christian framework to encourage the students to achieve their goals at the college and in their community, SFC provides a Christian atmosphere for students to develop the competencies needed for their chosen occupational fields of study. It is a non-denominational organization open to all Albany Tech students.
View PHOTOS