Captain Julie Long Miavez was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Upon graduation from The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Captain Miavez was commissioned by Navy veteran, Dr. “Buckeye Bob” Newcomb, as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. During her first eight years she worked at the Naval Hospital Pensacola Florida, Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico, and Branch Medical Clinic Mayport Florida.
In 1998, she earned an Additional Qualifying Designator (AQD) in Aviation Optometry in Pensacola, Florida before reporting to Naval Hospital Beaufort, South Carolina. Captain Miavez served as Department Head for Tri-Command Beaufort Optometry, which included Naval Hospital Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. She also served as Head, Extended Support Services at the hospital supervising the largest department of 14 separate medical specialties such as Dermatology, Ear Nose and Throat, and inpatient wards. While at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot, Captain Miavez provided urgent care, vision examinations, and optical fabrication to Marine recruits. At the air station, she attained Mach 1.03 and pulled 6.9Gs while flying backseat in the fighter attack jet F/A – 18D Hornet courtesy of the Marine Corps squadron, VMFA (AW) 332, the “Moonlighters”.
She transferred to Naval Health Clinic, Hawaii in 2002 and earned designators in Executive Medicine and Managed Care. After six months of providing patient care, she was chosen to lead the Branch Health Clinic Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In June 2006, she transferred to Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, Maryland as Head, Specialty Clinics.
In November 2007 to June 2008, she deployed to Camp Lemonier Djibouti, Africa as Officer in Charge of the Expeditionary Medical Facility team in support of Combined Task Force Horn of Africa and Operation Enduring Freedom. During her deployment, the Commanding General of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Army Hospital hosted Captain Miavez and a few in her unit to the military hospital in Addis Ababa. Her team exchanged medical knowledge with Ethiopian Army physicians to better serve both military health care teams in East Africa. Captain Miavez is the only optometrist in the Navy to have led a deployed medical force.
In June 2009, she was selected to lead the Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West, Florida, as Officer in Charge. In July 2012, she transferred to Naval Health Clinic Charleston, South Carolina, her last tour of duty before she retires from the Navy.
Captain Miavez was named Navy Optometrist of the Year in 2004. In 2009, she was recognized for being ranked in the top three of all Navy optometrists, civilian and military, for patient satisfaction through anonymous survey of beneficiaries. Her military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and tour and campaign awards.
Captain Miavez is Past President of the Armed Forces Optometric Society, a member of the American Optometric Association and Florida Optometric Association, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. She is married to David Miavez and they have two children, John (13) and Jeffrey (8). Of her experience while at The Ohio State University, she comments, “In addition to the best band and sports teams in the land, I am grateful and honored to have graduated from an optometry college that provides world-class education, employs compassionate and competent faculty, and yields a network of the best and brightest alumni. Go Buckeyes!”