Washington D.C. - U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) top medical professional received one of the Spanish Navy's top awards in a ceremony here May 4.

Rear Adm. Gregory Timberlake, USJFCOM's command surgeon, received the Spanish Navy Cross of Merit award for his accomplishments while serving as director of surgical services and medical director of the emergency room at Naval Hospital Rota, Spain, from 1983 to 1985.

During his tour more than 20 years ago, Timberlake ensured all surgical care and emergency treatment rendered to patients at the hospital was of the highest quality. This included a number of Spanish civilians and military members who were brought to the hospital for life- or limb-threatening emergencies on a "compassionate" basis.

"Even though the award was in my name, it's really a tribute to the entire Naval Hospital Rota team," said Timberlake.

The award ceremony was originally scheduled in June 1986, but Timberlake had already returned to the United States for a new assignment, and was unable to attend. The diploma and medals were not sent to him due to an oversight by the office handling this matter at the Spanish Navy Headquarters.

"It was through Dr. Arnaldo Olcese, a surgeon at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, that we were able to establish contact with Rear Adm. Timberlake again," said Spanish Capt. Juan Carlos San Martin, naval attaché.

After several e-mails and telephone calls between Timberlake and San Martin, the two men scheduled the award ceremony to coincide with one of Timberlake's official visits to Washington, D.C.

Timberlake was formally presented the award by Defense Attaché to the United States, Spanish Brig. Gen. Antonio Valderrabano.

"I was particularly touched that 20 years after the award was made that the general and his naval attaché, when he found out that the award had not been presented to me, would take the time and effort to track it down and then have such a great ceremony," said Timberlake.

In his role as USJFCOM surgeon, Timberlake oversees the mission of leading the medical transformation of the armed forces of the United States and the NATO nations.

His directorate provides advice on force health protection in the command's joint force provider role, as well as overseeing various medical plans and policies that support the commander's initiatives.