Outstanding Achievement Award Winner

The Outstanding Achievement Award is presented for exceptional professional achievement and success.

Capt. Kristin Hodapp ’97 ’98M

Since graduating from Clarke with a BA in Human Health Sciences in 1997 and an MS in Physical Therapy in 1998, Captain Kristin Hodapp has built a 26-year Navy career marked by service, leadership, and commitment to others. She currently serves as Deputy Corps Chief of the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps, providing strategic leadership and support for Navy and Marine Corps officers.

Kristin’s path to military service began while she was still at Clarke. A clinical internship at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune showed her the unique opportunities and camaraderie available in Navy Medicine. She was commissioned in December 1998 and went on to serve in a wide range of posts—from Naval Hospital Jacksonville to Iceland, where she was the first assigned physical therapist, to deployments aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. She also led key commands including Naval Medical Centers in San Diego and New England.

As a physical therapist, she specialized in outpatient orthopedics and musculoskeletal care. After a decade in direct care, she moved into leadership—directing clinical support services, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, serving on hospital boards, and mentoring over 450 healthcare professionals. She played a critical role in establishing physical therapy billets with Navy SEAL teams and led systemwide pandemic response planning.

Kristin is a board-certified in orthopedics, was a certified strength and conditioning coach for 20 years and currently mentors and educates future healthcare professionals. Her awards include the Legion of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and three Achievement Medals. She was also named Senior Navy Physical Therapist of the Year.

She credits Clarke as the foundation of her journey. In her words:
“My ‘origin’ story to both my professional and personal journey was Clarke. Clarke’s culture and the role of the faculty helped me refine my goals, priorities, and created a deep appreciation of service in me.”

Kristin lives in Maryland with her husband, a retired Navy physician, and their four children. Her family’s resilience, especially through frequent moves and deployments, inspires her daily. She continues to model the BVM values—education, justice, charity, and freedom—through service, integrity, and gratitude.

Receiving this award, Kristin says, is deeply meaningful. It honors the start of a journey shaped by Clarke’s community and values—and one that continues to serve others every day.