When we think of famous Naval Academy graduates, images of admirals, astronauts, and national leaders often come to mind. But Captain Carl H. June, MD, USN (Ret.), has carved a name for himself in a very different—but equally heroic—arena: medicine. As a pioneering immunologist, Dr. June has helped transform the field of U.S. oncology, leading research that has saved lives and reshaped what we thought was possible in cancer treatment.
Related: USNA Distinguished Graduate: Admiral James Stavridis
Let’s take a closer look at the journey of this notable Naval Academy graduate—from his time in Annapolis to the labs and clinics where he’s changed the world for the better.
From the Yard to the Front Lines of Science
Carl June was in the Academy’s second-ever pre-medicine cohort, graduating from the Naval Academy in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. As a midshipman, he stood out not only for his intellect but for his curiosity and drive—a combination that would later define his medical career. Upon graduation, June pursued further education at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, attaining his medical degree within just three years. From 1978 to 1979, he used an immunology scholarship to complete graduate training in Immunology and Malaria with Dr. Paul-Henri Lambert at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, to help further important naval research on malaria vaccines.
Next, in 1980, June returned to Bethesda, Maryland to complete his four-year residency at the National Naval Medical Center.
The Navy next sent him to complete his postdoctoral work in transplantation biology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, where June worked closely with E. Donnell Thomas and John Hansen to learn how to perform bone marrow transplants. He returned to Bethesda in 1986 to start a bone marrow transplant clinic at the Naval Medical Research Institute.
From there, Dr. June launched a career in medical research, fulfilling appointments with the Naval Medical Research Institute/Office of Naval Research, Bethesda Naval Hospital, and the Uniformed Services University—before retiring in 1996 and starting his lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on a new human immunology program manufacturing human T cells and performing clinical trials. At the time, it was one of just a few laboratories focused on the nascent science of immunotherapy.
Although June followed an uncommon path for a Navy officer, his service through science would prove just as vital to his country—and to humanity—as anything on the battlefield.
Changing the Course of Cancer Treatment
It wasn’t an easy path, but Dr. June slowly made a name for himself on the global scale, thanks to his groundbreaking work with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a revolutionary form of immunotherapy. Simply put, this treatment reprograms a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer. It’s a living drug, and for many patients with certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, it has been life-changing, leading to long-term remission—even when other treatments failed.
His work began in the early 1990s, long before immunology and U.S. oncology were household concepts. Dr. June’s research took decades of persistence, careful experimentation, and collaboration. But his unwavering belief in the power of the immune system—and the potential of science to save lives—paid off.
By 2011, Dr. June’s research team had published their results. Then, in 2017, the FDA approved the first CAR T-cell therapy, opening the way for more therapies and creating a new frontier in personalized medicine that has helped both adult and pediatric patients with specific types of leukemia.
Today, Dr. June plays many roles at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He also serves as the Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at the Perelman School of Medicine and Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. He and his team continue to innovate in immunology, seeking new ways to apply the therapy to treat cancer, as well as HIV, autoimmune diseases, and more.
Recognition, Awards, and Continued Service
For his tremendous contributions to modern medicine, Dr. June has received numerous accolades, cementing his place among the most famous Naval Academy graduates. He was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018 and received the 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, one of the highest honors in science. The New York Times called his gene therapy contributions "a turning point in the long struggle to develop effective gene therapies against cancer."
With over 350 manuscripts to his name, Dr. June is held in high esteem by the medical community. He has been elected to the Institute of Medicine (2012) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2014). He has earned the William B. Coley Award, the Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, the AACR-CRI Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology, the Philadelphia Award (2012), the Taubman Prize for Excellence in Translational Medical Science (2014, shared with S. Grupp, B. Levine, and D. Porter), the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize (shared with J. Allison), the Novartis Prize in Immunology (shared with Z. Eshaar and S. Rosenberg), the Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award, the Debrecen Award, and a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
In 2016, Captain June, MD was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, a fitting recognition for a man whose life’s work has been nothing short of transformative.
Related: USNA Distinguished Graduate: John S. McCain III
Inspiring the Next Generation
Captain Carl June, MD stands as a beacon of possibility for future Naval Academy graduates. His story is a powerful reminder that service can take many forms—from the flight deck to the research bench. As a notable Naval Academy graduate, he has shown that science, like the sea, holds uncharted territory—and bold explorers are always needed.
For midshipmen passionate about STEM fields, or anyone wondering what lies beyond traditional Naval careers, his journey shows that the Academy’s foundation opens doors in every direction. Whether in uniform or scrubs, the mission remains the same: to lead, to serve, and to make a lasting impact.
Captain June, MD is more than just a brilliant immunologist or a hero of U.S. oncology. He is proof that the values forged at the U.S. Naval Academy can ripple outward in extraordinary ways. His pioneering work has given hope to patients once told there was none. And his legacy continues to grow—not just in the awards he’s won or the lives he’s saved, but in the inspiration he brings to those following in his footsteps.
Come visit the place where life-changing careers begin. When you walk the pathways and take a USNA tour, enjoy Yard dining, or take a souvenir home, you’re supporting the future leaders of the Fleet who will serve—and lead—in more ways than one.
