re: The Navy's Admiral Levine & US DSA of Nuclear Energy meet at French Ambassador's Office

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Why does the position need a military like uniform?

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The USPHS started off running Federal hospitals for invalid Navy sailors in the 19th century, which is how they acquired their “naval” flavor. As the years went on they increasingly became the US government’s field-service medical corps, including deployment during wartime alongside active servicemen. Conferring commissioned ranks guaranteed them protections under the Geneva Conventions.

As for uniforms, up through WWII, they wore the uniforms of whatever service they were attached to. After the war, there was a desire for more uniformity (as it were). Given their naval character, it made sense to choose naval ranks and uniforms. Today they wear Navy dress and service dress uniforms and Coast Guard utility uniforms.

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