T. Rob Tempel, Jr., DDS, MSS
Associate Dean for Extramural Clinical Practices
tempelt18@ecu.edu
252-737-7029
3255 Ledyard E. Ross Hall
Clinical Interests
Improved health through interprofessional collaboration and value-based healthcare through leader development.
Board Certifications
American Board of General Dentistry
Federal Services Board of General Dentistry
Education
Masters in Strategic Studies, U.S. War College
AEGD-2Yr. Fort Bragg, North Carolina
AEGD-1Yr. Fort Jackson, South Carolina
DDS Baltimore College of Dental Surgery
BA Gettysburg College
Society Memberships
American Dental Association
Academy of General Dentistry
American Dental Education Association
Association of the United States Army
Military Officer Association of America
Association of Army Dentistry
Biographical Information
Prior to joining the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine as the Associate Dean for Extramural Clinical Practices, Dr. Tempel served twenty-seven years in the United States Army reaching the rank of Major General and Chief, US Army Dental Corps.
He led at every level from Captain to Major General, with service as Commanding General (CEO) of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command – Central in San Antonio, TX , Commanding General of the U.S. Army Western Regional Medical Command on JB Lewis-McChord, WA; Commander of the U.S. Army Dental Command on JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX; Walter Reed Dental Activity, Washington, D.C.; Northern Regional Dental Command on Fort Belvoir, VA; and as the Northern Regional Medical Command Readiness Director also on Fort Belvoir.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree and was a Distinguished Military Graduate from Gettysburg College in 1987. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps and then attended the University of Maryland Dental School, where he received his dental degree in 1991. After dental school, Dr. Tempel attended the Advanced Education in General Dentistry – One Year Program at Fort Jackson, SC. He then went to Fort Bragg, NC, for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection and Detachment Officers Qualification Course, then on to Fort Lewis, WA, to be the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) Dental Surgeon.
Following the Advanced Education in General Dentistry – Two Year Residency at Fort Bragg, Dr. Tempel was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta. He also served as the Professional Development Officer for the Dental Corps Branch, Army Personnel Command; commanded the 464th Medical Company, to include a year in Iraq as the 464th Commander and Multinational Corps – Iraq Dental Surgeon with Task Force 44th MEDCOM. He attended the Army War College in Carlisle, PA, after which he served as the Fort Meade Dental Activity Commander on Fort Meade, MD.
Dr. Tempel is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He completed the Special Forces Detachment Officers Qualification Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) School; Combat Casualty Care Course; Jumpmaster School; Dental Clinic Management Course; Interagency Institute of Federal Healthcare Executives Course; and the Medical Capstone Course. He earned the Special Forces Tab, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Royal Thai Airborne Wings.
Additionally, Dr. Tempel is a Diplomate of the Federal Services Board of General Dentistry, the American Board of General Dentistry, and a Fellow in the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Education Association, Military Officer Association, Association of the United States Army and the Association of Army Dentistry.
Dr. Tempel’s awards and decorations include two American Dental Association Presidential Citations and the Kriser medal from New York University Dental School, along with the following military awards: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal two Oak Leaf Clusters, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Order of Military Medical Merit, and the Army Surgeon General’s “A” proficiency designator.