Navy entomologists serve as subject matter experts for all things arthropod, mitigating nuisance and disease risk posed by pests and vectors to servicemembers at home and abroad. Learn more from three Navy entomologists who share their experiences and lessons learned as early career professionals in the military. Pictured left to right are Lt. Luke Prescott, Lt. Nicholas Johnston, and Lt. Victoria Wong.

By Lt. Corey Day, Ph.D.

Lt. Corey Day, M.S., Ph.D.

The United States Navy has commissioned entomologists since World War II to protect Sailors and Marines by mitigating disease risk and nuisance of pests and vectors, which have historically caused more casualties to servicemembers than combat-related injuries. Navy entomologists are more than scientists in military uniforms, though; they are commissioned officers who are expected not only to be the subject matter experts for all things arthropod but also to demonstrate the highest standards of military leadership.

In this role, Navy entomologists have opportunities to lead operational and research missions across the globe, including leadership of preventive medicine teams during deployments to ensure force health protection and readiness. These efforts all focus on the goal of protecting Sailors and Marines ashore and afloat.

Lt. Victoria Wong

Lt. Nicholas Johnston, Ph.D.

Lt. Luke Prescott

In this article, three Navy entomologists who commissioned into the Navy shortly after completing their graduate educations will provide their experiences and lessons learned as early career professionals in the military.

Lt. Luke Prescott commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 2022 after receiving his M.S. in entomology from the University of Florida through the Navy Medical Service Corps’ Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP), which provided full-time pay and benefits while he pursued his education. As a Navy Officer, Lt. Prescott served as the Fleet Entomology and Operations Expeditionary Equipment Division Officer at the Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO (NEPMU-2), located at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, from 2022 to 2025 and is currently serving as an entomologist at NEPMU-7 in Rota, Spain.

Lt. Nicholas Johnston commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 2022 after receiving his Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida. His graduate education was funded by the HSCP. He served as Head of the Testing & Evaluation and Operational Forces Support departments at the Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE) in Jacksonville, Florida, from 2022-2025. He is currently stationed at Preventive Medicine Unit (PMU), 2nd Medical Battalion in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Lt. Victoria Wong commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 2021 after receiving her M.S. in entomology from Virginia Polytechnic University. She served as an entomologist at NECE from 2021 to 2024, where she held the responsibilities of Operational Forces Support Department Head, and she is currently serving as Officer in Charge at Preventive Medicine Unit (PMU), 2nd Medical Battalion in Jacksonville, North Carolina, supporting force health protection of operational U.S. Marines.

Why Join the Navy?

Joining the military as a uniformed servicemember is a major decision and one that often surprises the friends and family members of entomologists who may be better known for butterfly nets than camouflage and combat boots. Everyone’s reason for joining is different, ranging from a desire to travel the world, an interest in operational entomology, the search for a diverse career path, or simply a desire to serve.

The Navy’s HSCP offered Lt. Johnston the opportunity to fund his doctoral education and pursue a diverse career while following in his father’s footsteps as an active-duty officer.

Johnston: “While in graduate school, I was strongly considering the pursuit of a career in industry or the military. During my master’s degree, I stumbled onto the HSCP opportunity, which offered excellent financial incentives, a job as a Navy entomologist immediately after graduation, and the promise of an exciting career deploying all over the world, which was hard to refuse.”

For Lt. Prescott, pest management is the family business, and like Lt. Johnston, the Navy offered him the opportunity to continue a familial tradition of military service and fund his advanced education in entomology.

Prescott: “Pest management has been my family trade for a few generations, but I had no idea I could do it for the military. The opportunity arose while I was pursuing an undergraduate degree, and it seemed like an obvious choice. It also helped that my professor and a couple of my peers in graduate school were funded by the HSCP or Medical Service Corps Inservice Procurement Program or had previously served as a Navy entomologist. They helped guide me through the process. My family has military service history, too, and I have always admired that a ton and wanted to do my part for this country.”

As a graduate student, Lt. Wong was not sure exactly what she wanted to do with her career. By joining the Navy, she would have the opportunity to develop her skillsets in entomology and leadership while gaining experience in a wide variety of roles.

Wong: “Prior to commissioning, I did not have much direction in life, so I found the variety of opportunities within the singular career of a Navy entomologist to be appealing. I could work in research units overseas investigating new technologies to protect service members from pests and vectors, serve in administrative positions developing guidance and policy for Navy force health protection, or I could work operationally, getting hands-on in pest and vector management and in training service members, all while having the experience of traveling the world.”

Lt. Victoria Wong applies an ultra-low volume pesticide treatment using a handheld thermal fogger. All Navy entomologists are Department of Defense-certified pesticide applicators who act as subject matter experts in pest management. (Photo courtesy of Navy Entomology Center of Excellence)

Leadership Experiences as Navy Entomologists

An immediate challenge for fresh graduates who commission as entomologists is the requirement to serve not only as an expert in your field but also as an effective leader.

Prescott: “When it comes to leadership, I have had the honor of being the Division Officer for a couple departments at my first duty station, NEPMU-2. One of my mentors told me during the HSCP process, ‘Never forget that you are an officer first, entomologist second.’ That quote has stuck with me and resounds each day in the Navy, reminding me of the importance of our roles as officers to our peers and enlisted.”

Within his first two years in the Navy, Lt. Johnston served as the head of two different departments, requiring him to quickly develop his skillset and his capacity to lead a wide range of personnel.

Johnston: “After a short period leading an applied tick research team, I became department head of Operational Forces Support, where I led enlisted Preventive Medicine Technicians to provide operational support to ships and shore installations globally to reduce pest and vector threats. Later, I transitioned to head of the Testing and Evaluation department, where I led a combination of enlisted sailors, federal civilian employees, and contractors to test and evaluate a range of equipment for potential use in deployed environments.”

Lt. Wong also served as the head of Operational Forces Support at NECE. That experience was critical in 2024 when she served as the Preventive Medicine Officer-in-Charge for a U.S. Marine detachment that embarked on the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams in the Africa area of operations.

Wong: “My position covered all medical aspects for the deployment, from pre-deployment vaccinations to patient transport. There was much to learn and plan for, in a very short amount of time. Thankfully, I had an excellent team of Navy Hospital Corpsmen under me and the support of many others. I learned to rely on them and their strengths to augment my own. Together, we supported the mission by securing the health of the Marines and Sailors in the detachment.”

Lt. Nicholas Johnston, Ph.D., dips for mosquito larvae in support of global arthropod surveillance. (Photo by Lt. John So)

Lt. Victoria Wong trains to use a water testing kit to protect force health during deployments. (Photo courtesy of Lt. Victoria Wong)

Challenges and Learning Opportunities

The transition from civilian to military comes with many challenges and opportunities for growth. For many entomologists, their initial officer training will be the first military experience of their lives, and in some cases, it is the first time they have been given the opportunity to lead teams outside the academic environment.

Prescott: “My biggest hurdle was going from a specific academic focus to a much broader leadership role. I was immediately put into a leadership position at NEPMU-2, with no prior Navy leadership experience, and I felt some growing pains. My role as an officer isn’t just to work in the field I went to school for, but also to excel in a variety of leadership roles and collateral duties that I had never experienced. However, your peers in the Navy are everything and can help guide you along the transition.”

Although these challenges can be daunting, they also provide ample opportunity for personal and professional growth. When it comes to leadership, one benefit of Naval service is the constant opportunity to observe and experience the leadership of others, helping you to shape your own leadership style.

Wong: “I have worked with many excellent leaders in the Navy who provided me with a wide range of perspectives on leadership. These perspectives converge at one point: the humanity in leadership. As humans, while we strive for greatness, we are imperfect beings. It is important to acknowledge who you are and what your strengths are, so you can understand how you can improve. The same goes for those you lead—to understand them is to know how to best lead and mentor them to become their best selves. Even if one is uncertain of their ability to lead, by being open to learning and working on oneself, one can become a great leader. There is much still for me to learn, both as a leader and as an entomologist; it is a process, eternally progressing, but through my journey I bring the passion, intelligence, warmth, dignity, and determination of those I have encountered and learn from.”

As for any new role, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome as a new Navy entomologist is how to deal with failure.

Johnston: “It is important to understand that failures are inevitable as a junior officer when learning how to effectively manage a team and operate correctly within your chain of command, but this kind of job is incredibly helpful for growing as a leader and developing skills for future career options.”

Opportunities to Become a Navy Entomologist

To become a Navy entomologist, you must have at least a master’s degree in entomology or a closely related subject. Graduate education funding is available through competitive admission to the Navy HSCP. For active duty enlisted personnel, graduate funding is also offered through competitive admission to the Medical Service Corps Inservice Procurement Program (MSC-IPP). To learn about existing opportunities and to begin the application process, contact a Navy Officer Recruiter.

Lt. Corey Day, M.S., Ph.D., is the Department Head of Testing and Evaluation at Navy Entomology Center of Excellence in Jacksonville, Florida. Email: [email protected].  

Photos courtesy of Navy Entomology Center of Excellence, Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit-2, and Preventive Medicine Unit (PMU), 2nd Medical Battalion.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.