RDML Kelly Battese has served in multiple leadership positions throughout his career. His passion for pharmacists leading inside and outside of traditional pharmacy roles has shaped his career and his desire for pharmacy leadership development and mentoring.

RDML Battese currently serves in the Indian Health Service (I.H.S) as the Chief Executive Officer for the Haskell Indian Health Center. He started his career with Indian Health Service (I.H.S) as a clinical pharmacist with the Haskell Indian Health Center in Lawrence, Kansas. His work ethic and leadership skills have transitioned him into several leadership positions within the I.H.S Oklahoma City Area. He moved on to serve as the chief pharmacist of the White Cloud Health Station in White Cloud, Kansas, and assumed the chief executive officer duties for that facility. Looking to further his knowledge and leadership skills he transferred to the Claremore Indian Hospital where he served as the ambulatory care director and later as the hospital’s administrative officer. These positions and experiences led him to his current position as Chief Executive Officer.

RDML Battese served on Rapid Deployment Force 4 (RDF4) for fourteen years in a variety of roles eventually leading the team as team commander. His extensive deployment history includes border missions, hurricane responses, and Remote Area Medical (RAM) missions. Recently he has served as the vice-chair for the National Council of Chief Executive Officers and currently, RDML Battese serves on the National Council of Chief Executive Officers, the I.H.S National Commissioned Corps Awards Board, is faculty for the I.H.S Pharmacy Leadership Training course as well as a member of the I.H.S Health IT Modernization executive committee.

RDML Battese was the recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Senior Pharmacist of the Year Award for the Oklahoma City Area I.H.S. In 2019 he received the Chief Executive Officers Award from the I.H.S Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee as well as an I.H.S Director’s Award. RDML Battese received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from Tabor College, a Masters of Business Administration in health care from Southern Nazarene University and Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Kansas.

He has been happily married to Rachel for 19 years and has three children, Alayna, Natalie, and Tanner. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and as much time as possible in the outdoors.