Rear Adm. Wagner grew up in Southern Indiana and attended Butler University (B.A., 1976) and Indiana University School of Dentistry (D.D.S., 1980). She completed her Pediatric Dentistry residency at Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis in 1982. She was commissioned and reported to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, Calif., in December 1983. In July 1987, she became the Pediatric Dentistry department head at the 32nd Street Dental Clinic, San Diego.
In July 1990, Wagner reported as a department head in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. In 1995, Wagner became the junior assignment officer for the dental corps at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Annex, Washington D.C., followed in 1998, as the Pediatric Dentistry department head at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School. After an overseas assignment in Okinawa, Japan, she returned to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery as the deputy chief of the Dental Corps (00DCB).
She has served as clinic director, Branch Dental Clinic, Washington Navy Yard and director of Surgical Services and director of Women’s, Children’s and Community Health at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. Wagner’s next assignment was as the executive officer at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Fla., followed by her first tour as commanding officer, Naval Hospital Beaufort, S.C. in 2006. In 2008 she reported as commanding officer, Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait and, in 2009, commanding officer of Naval Health Care New England. In August 2010, she assumed the duties as the director, Medical Resources Plans and Policy Division, OPNAV code N931 and chief, Navy Dental Corps. In September 2011 she assumed command of Navy Medicine East and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
Her military decorations and awards include: Legion of Merit with two gold stars, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars.