It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Robert Benson “Bo” Halder on 6 January 2025 at age 81. Rear Admiral Halder entered the U.S. Navy in December 1968 and served in the Medical Corps until his retirement in July 1992 as commanding officer, Naval Hospital San Diego. His other commands included Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, and Naval Medical Command, Southwest Region, San Diego.
Robert Halder earned a bachelor of arts degree at Harpur College, State University of New York, Binghamton, in 1964. He then entered the State University of New York Upstate Medical School in Syracuse, earning his doctor of medicine degree in 1968. He entered the U.S. Naval Reserve on 27 December 1968, to rank as a lieutenant (junior grade) from 26 November 1965 and a lieutenant from 1 December 1967. From 1968 to 1969, he was a surgical intern at the State University of California, University Hospital, San Diego, where he was named “Intern of the Year.” He reported for active duty on 29 June 1969.
In July 1969, Lieutenant Halder reported to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Naval Aerospace Medical Center, Pensacola, Florida, for training as a flight surgeon. He was designated as a flight surgeon on 18 December 1969. He then reported for duty to Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT at Naval Air Station Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida. In July 1971, following his operational tour, he reported to Naval Hospital San Diego for ophthalmology service resident training. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in December 1971. Between 1971 and 1974, he conducted clinical rotations at the Veterans Administration Hospital, LaJolla, California.
In 1974, Lieutenant Commander Halder served in Harar, Ethiopia, as part of a joint U.S. Navy– International Eye Foundation venture to deliver ophthalmology medical and surgical care. Upon return from Ethiopia, he finished his residency training and in September 1974, he reported to Naval Regional Medical Center, Camp Pendleton, California, as staff ophthalmologist and family practice preceptor (an experienced professional who helps students and staff learn new skills and apply their knowledge in a clinical setting). He was promoted to commander in December 1975 and augmented into the U.S. Navy in August 1978. He was promoted to captain in July 1982.
In May 1983, Captain Halder became director of clinical services at Naval Regional Medical Center, Camp Pendleton. In May 1984 he assumed duty as executive officer of Naval Hospital Long Beach, California. In April 1985, he became commanding officer of Naval Hospital Naples, Italy. In November 1987, he reported to Commander, Naval Medical Command, in Washington, DC, as deputy commander for fleet readiness.
In June 1988, Captain Halder assumed command of Naval Medical Command, Southwest Region, San Diego, which included command of Naval Hospital San Diego, and command of Naval Medical Clinic, San Diego. He was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) on 2 January 1989. The Navy Medical Southwest Region and Naval Medical Clinic commands were disestablished on 1 October 1989, with duties subsumed by commanding officer, Naval Hospital San Diego. This hospital served more than 400,000 military personnel, family members, and retirees. While in command, Rear Admiral Halder improved access to psychiatric care and obstetrics, and opened the Navy’s first pediatric intensive care unit, while also continuing the renowned neo-natal intensive care unit. In 1989, he founded the Southern California Coalition for Improving Health Care Quality, a coalition of 24 hospitals, both government and civilian, including the Veterans Administration hospitals in San Diego and Los Angeles. Rear Admiral Halder was promoted to rear admiral (two-star) on 1 July 1990. The city of San Diego proclaimed 28 May 1992 to be “Rear Admiral Halder Day.” He retired on 1 July 1992.
Rear Admiral Halder’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Navy Commendation Medal; Navy Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; National Defense Service Medal (two awards); Humanitarian Service Medal; and the Navy Overseas Service Ribbon (two awards).
After retiring from active duty, Rear Admiral Halder served as senior vice president of the Juran Institute. He traveled worldwide consulting on health-care quality. In 1993, he was engaged as senior clinical quality consultant to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In1994, he co-authored the Joint Commission Accreditation Standards for Quality Improvement. During the 1990s, he served as vice president of medical affairs at a Midwest health care system. He served as executive medical consultant of NOVACES, a performance excellence company headquartered in New Orleans. He also served as director at Veterans Medical Research Foundation. In 2003, he co-founded North County Warrior Support, a not-for-profit organization providing more than $400,000 in free auto repair to junior enlisted service members and families in the San Diego area. He and his wife, Marilyn, served on the Board of Soldiers Who Salsa, a non-profit that provides dance instruction as part of physical rehabilitation for wounded warriors at Naval Hospitals San Diego, Camp Pendleton, and Walter Reed/ Bethesda. He was also a fellow in the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Rear Admiral Halder had a stellar career in the Medical Corps. He was a tireless and vocal advocate for constantly improving the quality of medical care, both before and after retirement. He started as a flight surgeon before specializing in ophthalmology, but his leadership and administrative skills soon led him to positions as clinic director, executive officer, and then command, first in Naples, Italy, and at one of the largest naval hospitals in the United States (along with Portsmouth and the former Bethesda facility) with a patient base of more than 400,000 (at the time, 100,000 military personnel, 200,000 family members, and 100,000 retirees). Most of his career was on the West Coast, where his outsized personality made him well known throughout the community, but he also served in Ethiopia and Italy. No doubt there are thousands of patients who are better off today because of his care—and his leadership of care. He served with great dedication and distinction, at sacrifice to family time, and he will be truly missed.
Rest in Peace, Admiral Halder.