Born in Baltimore, Rear Adm. Stocks comes from a family with careers in medicine and the military.

Graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1972, Stocks completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training and Submarine School prior to serving on USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN 619) and USS Long Beach (CGN 9).

Stocks transferred his commission to the Medical Corps and received his Medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. Stocks commanded Naval Hospital Corpus Christi and its clinics in Fort Worth, Ingleside and Kingsville, Texas.  In October 2007, he served his first flag officer tour as the U.S. Fleet Forces fleet surgeon and deployed as the Joint Task Force Haiti surgeon in January 2010. In May 2010, Stocks transitioned to commander, Navy Medicine East and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.  In September 2011, he assumed command of Navy Medicine National Capital Area and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit (5), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Overseas Deployment Ribbon (7), and he is designated as a surface warfare medical officer.