The College of the Florida Keys honored veterans during Community Day on Nov. 7, at the Key West campus. In his first Salute to Veterans as CFK president, Jared Ochs honored Capt. Drew Bigby, U.S. Navy (Ret.), who is the CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC).
“Florida is the most military-friendly state in the nation,” said Ochs. “The Florida Keys is fortunate to have many veterans like Drew who keep serving their country long after they take off the uniform. He has dedicated nearly three decades caring for those who serve our country, and his service continues as he cares for all of us here in the Lower Keys.”
The salute comes as America marks its 250th anniversary and Florida observes Veterans Appreciation Month. On Oct. 30, Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaimed Nov. 11, 2026, as Veterans Day and November as Veterans Appreciation Month in Florida, home to nearly 1.4 million veterans.
A native of Fairhope, Alabama, and a graduate of Auburn University, Bigby was inspired to join the Navy by his uncle, a hospital administrator in Pensacola. He was commissioned in 1994 and reported to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, where he led the medical department through two deployments, Bigby saw the difference he could make for sailors and their families. After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, with the nation at war, his commitment to serving those who serve only deepened.
His career went on to include tours in San Diego, Sicily, Washington, D.C., and Japan, where he commanded U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. In his final assignment, he was CEO of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, overseeing 282 beds and 6,700 staff on the same Bethesda campus where his career began. He retired as a captain in July 2023 after 29 years of service. His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, in addition to unit and service awards.
After the Navy, Bigby served as chief administrative officer at Swedish Health System in Seattle before taking the helm of the 167-bed LKMC in April 2025. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a project management professional certified by the Project Management Institute.
For decades, LKMC has been the primary clinical site for CFK nursing students in the Lower Keys, where they develop skills through a rotation of hands-on experiences. The hospital also employs CFK nursing students and alumni. From 2023 to 2026, LKMC contributed $430,000 toward Florida’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) grant, which encourages nursing programs and health care partners to collaborate to combat the state’s nursing shortage. The combined industry and state matching LINE funds support CFK nursing scholarships, faculty salaries, and instructional technology.
“Captain Bigby’s career of service sets an example for our students, especially the future nurses who will one day care for this community,” said Ochs. “We are grateful for his service to our country and to the Keys.”
