The first thing Heather Rovey would tell you about her 21-year career as a Navy pharmacist is that it’s not that impressive or that others have cooler stories to share. Like many Veterans, Heather is quick to recognize others for their service and sacrifice while very quietly acknowledging her own. It’s this attitude of humble service that led Heather to complete a full career with the Navy and then to serve at Lutheran Military Support Group as a board director, Secretary, then Board Chair, completing her nine-year term in August of 2026. 

           Heather’s inspiration to join the military came from her younger brother who attended the United States Naval Academy in Maryland. After her first year of pharmacy school, Rovey made a summer visit to see her brother and said she was “in awe of what people were doing.” The challenge and opportunity to try something new inspired Heather to look for military scholarship options for her last three years of pharmacy school, eventually committing to the U.S. Navy. She began active duty in 2000 while still in school, graduated and passed her boards in 2002, and continued with Officer Indoctrination School in New Port, Rhode Island for six weeks before being assigned to her first duty station in Bremerton, WA. 

           As a new pharmacist, Rovey felt the added responsibility of serving as a military officer, immediately supervising four civilian pharmacists and several military and civilian pharmacy technicians who all had more experience. She rose to the challenge and served there for a few months before deploying for Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2003 as part of Fleet Hospital 8. There in Rota, Spain, Heather worked in a tent hospital on base and served over 1,400 patients, helping to stabilize the injured for transport to Germany or back to the United States after ortho and shrapnel injuries. Rovey was initially the only pharmacist for the hospital until the team grew to two pharmacists and six technicians. While serving as the lead pharmacist throughout that deployment, Heather learned from and leaned on the experiential knowledge of her team for day-to-day running of the pharmacy. Soon that team became more of a family.

           After returning from deployment, Rovey served in a variety of pharmacy settings, both clinics and inpatient hospitals. Her leadership role continued to grow as she became administratively responsible for several divisions at Bangor Health Clinic including pharmacy, radiology, lab, and more. She was able to work alongside different disciplines, such as independent duty corpsmen, which gave her unique experiences like being a passenger on a submarine. Heather continued to grow as a pharmacist and as a leader; however, it was not always an easy road.

           At her next duty station in Japan, Rovey experienced joys and challenges. She met one of her best friends, explored the country on leave and free weekends, learned a new culture, and experienced living in a Japanese community. She also had to learn how to handle less-than-ideal situations and poor leadership. In addition to professional struggles, Rovey says not having the ability to regularly attend church services “certainly had an impact.” She remembers receiving cassette tapes in the mail from her parents to listen to recorded sermons and laughed, “I remember trying to hunt down a tape player, because no one was really using them back then either. It was better than nothing!” Rovey says it was during this period that she thought about leaving the military. “It was a tough experience. I didn’t plan to do it for a career, but they said, ‘I need you,’ and I guess I’m a sucker for that.” 

          Instead of completing a scholarship and a few good years with the Navy, Rovey moved on to another duty station in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she managed inpatient and outpatient pharmacies as well as many civilian employees. Heather described this duty station as a “growing location” for her professionally. Heather also enjoyed some spiritual growth by connecting with a church again, making the one-hour commute from base well worth the drive. After eight years of serving as a pharmacist, Rovey finally had the opportunity to choose education instead of leadership and completed a pharmacy residency in Maryland.

          Of course, a break from leadership in the military can only be temporary, and Heather’s next station at Fort Belvoir brought her an opportunity to work with Army, Navy, and civilians in a new hospital. Heather worked on a team to start the pharmacy from scratch, filling over 2,000 prescriptions per day from day 1. She served as the Assistant Pharmacy Chief, overseeing about 120 people. Rovey described the new program as “our baby,” and remembers a strong team that worked well together, often putting in over 14 hours daily. “It was a really hard-working time, but really worthwhile.” 

           While stationed at Fort Belvoir, Heather also deployed for a humanitarian mission in the South Pacific and enjoyed the experience of being on a ship. The mission took place on the USS Pearl Harbor, a ship usually used by Marines to launch amphibious crafts. The teams completed medical exchanges, sharing ideas and education, and provided medical care and free medication where it was needed. The project involved many groups including Project HOPE, military members from Canada and New Zealand, and other government entities. Heather enjoyed the everyday experiences, like resupplying the ship by moving boxes via helicopters and wires, riding ship to shore in a helicopter, and watching phosphorescent plankton at night. 

           Next, another boot camp station in North Chicago at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the only integrated VA and military facility in the U.S.. Rovey helped care for a wide variety of people, from young recruits to elderly Veterans, the homeless population, and those with physical and psychiatric needs. She served as head of all clinical support services, overseeing 11 different hospital services with over 500 employees, and served on the Board of Directors as well. At her last duty station in San Antonio, she continued to lead at the Defense Health Agency, working with both civilians and military members from the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Public Health Service. The team managed the pharmacy formulary,  which affected decisions for all of Tricare. “It was a great, collective culture experience working with really smart and experienced clinical pharmacists, physicians, and pharmacoeconomists. It was really fun to work with a team like that.”

           And then Covid. “It was a weird ending to my career,” said Rovey as she recalled working from home and several attempts to return to the office before remaining virtual. Heather didn’t mind her quiet retirement party, just a few coworkers and her new husband, Jonathan. Being a newlywed eased Rovey’s transition out of the military. “I didn’t really miss the military. It was like finishing one thing and starting a new chapter. I was grateful to choose together where to be and what to do and just enjoy married life.” Heather was also grateful to find a pharmacy job where she now works remotely. She enjoys living in Sedona, Arizona with Jonathan and their two cats. Jonathan plans to retire from the Army National Guard this summer after 20 years of service and loves his job as a pilot for search and rescue and police support for the state of Arizona. 

          Throughout Heather’s career, a common theme was her continuous growth. She grew as a pharmacist, starting active duty before even finishing school and ending her military career as a highly experienced pharmacist. She grew as a leader, first supervising a small group of people and eventually supervising hundreds and informing decisions that would affect thousands. She grew as a person, building resilience through challenges and forging lasting relationships. She grew in her faith, journeying through times of stagnation to times of strength and connectedness. Heather applied those lessons learned to her volunteer service with LMSG. “I was in places like Spain or the South Pacific where I didn’t feel in danger, but it’s not as convenient for many. We have to look for ways to continue to support those people. We need to be fed.” 

          In the time since Heather joined LMSG in 2017, the organization has grown and changed. Key programs such as the annual Spiritual Retreats and workshops, scholarships for WELS/ELS Service Members pursuing ministry, and the release of the Christian Service Members’ Handbook started during this time. God used Heather’s leadership experience to impact the effectiveness of these programs and to usher the organization through a major reorganization and hiring of their first employees. When asked about some of her favorite LMSG moments, Heather reflected on her attendance at the Spiritual Retreats. “I love just being there and learning, developing relationships with people that attend. They feel like family.” As her term of service nears completion, Heather is glad to see LMSG reaching more people and bringing new ideas to fruition. She shares, “It’s been a thrill to be a part of that.” 

Written by Natalie Christensen, 2026