Sandra Simons Baxter, Florida Delta, United States Navy
Thirteen years ago, Sandra Baxter made the decision to join the U.S. Navy, combining her passion for healthcare with a desire to serve others. She was drawn to military medicine for its focus on patient care above all else. Without the constraints of insurance systems, Sandra is able to prioritize delivering impactful care to those serving in the field.
Today, she serves as a Patient Administration Officer in the Navy Reserve and Assistant Director for Administration at Expeditionary Medical Facility Camp Pendleton, California, where she oversees administrative and patient operations for a 450-person command and Role 3 field hospital. Her team can build and fully staff a deployable hospital—from tents and Conex boxes—in just 72 hours.
In addition to her leadership role, Sandra is also a mother of two and a member of the Navy Funeral Honor Guard, where she has rendered final honors at more than 800 services. Among those, one funeral remains etched in her memory.
Serving as Officer in Charge for the funeral of a Navy SEAL who, like her, attended the University of Florida, Sandra witnessed a powerful tribute. “All of the SEAL teams flew in to attend the service,” she says. “At the end, each SEAL punched their SEAL Trident badges into his coffin, symbolizing that their bond remains even in death. I’ve never felt so moved or appreciative of the sacrifices our military makes every day.”
Throughout her career, Sandra has navigated the challenges of serving as a woman in uniform—especially as a working mother and former dual-military spouse, when she outranked her husband. She remembers uniforms not made to fit women’s bodies, leadership expectations out of step with parenting responsibilities and outdated assumptions about gender roles. Still, she met those challenges head-on, letting her work speak for itself while continuing to advocate for what she believes in.
Sandra says her time in Pi Phi helped shape her confidence and resilience. As a member of Florida Delta, she developed skills that guide her leadership today. “Pi Phi taught me teamwork, how to work with people from different backgrounds, and how to stand up for my beliefs and voice my opinion, even if it’s not popular,” she says. “I found my voice in Pi Phi, and it helped me establish the values and morals I live by.”
The words she recited in chapter meetings as a collegian still resonate in her daily life. “These verses have stuck with me in everything I do,” Sandra says. “Do what is right. Be admirable. Be worthy of praise.”
Published May 1, 2026