Leader's bio
Commanding Officer, 3rd Dental Battalion
Captain John E. Bissell

Captain Bissell, a native of Center Point, Iowa, attended the University of Iowa and University of Iowa College of Dentistry, where he graduated with honors in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, followed by a Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree in 1999. He joined the Navy Dental Corps as a commissioned Lieutenant and completed a three-year postdoctoral residency in Periodontics from the University of Iowa.  He completed his residency in 2002, earning a Certificate in Periodontics and a Master of Science degree in Oral Science. 

Captain Bissell’s first duty station was to U.S. Naval Dental Center Far East in Yokosuka, Japan, where he served as Department Head of Periodontics until 2006.  He then left active duty to pursue private practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

He re-commissioned in 2010 as a Lieutenant Commander and received Orders to the United States Naval Hospital Pensacola, Florida, where he served as the Department Head for Periodontics until 2012.  His next assignment was to the United States Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan.  He assumed the position of General Dentistry Department Head in 2013, and later selected to become the Director of Dental Services, where he served from 2014-2017. 

Captain Bissell then reported to the Navy Medicine Professional Development Center in Bethesda, Maryland until 2020.  He served as an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, staff mentor for postdoctoral residents within the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, and Director of the NPDS Laser Training and Research Center.  During this time, he became the Navy’s first Specialty Leader for Laser Dentistry.

After successfully slating for Navy Executive Medicine, he reported to 2d Dental Battalion/Naval Dental Center Camp Lejeune, NC in May 2020 where he served as Executive Officer until November 2021. Captain Bissell then reported to 3d Dental Battalion/U.S. Naval Dental Center Okinawa, Japan where he currently serves as Commanding Officer.    

3d Marine Logistics Group