Robert A. Buethe
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Buethe is a retired Major General
and former Acting Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
.
and the Feinberg School of Medicine
.
in 1969. He served four years as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
at Barksdale Air Force Base
before transferring to Headquarters Strategic Air Command
as Chief of the Clinical Medicine Division, Office of the Surgeon.
In 1974, he was given command of the hospital at Plattsburgh Air Force Base
. He was the youngest hospital commander in the Strategic Air Command at the time at the age of 35. Buethe would later assume command of the hospitals Pease Air Force Base
and at Barksdale. During his time at Barksdale, he also served as a medical advisor to the Commander of the Eighth Air Force
.
In 1980, Barksdale was named Deputy Command Surgeon at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe. While there, he was prominent in the creating the medical standards for the NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry crews. In 1981, he organized and commanded Medical Red Flag-Munich, the Air Force's largest medical readiness exercise.
Buethe transferred to the Office of the Surgeon General after returning to the U.S.. In 1985, he became Director of Medical Plans and Resources after having previously served as Deputy Director. As such, he took part in reviewing and approving all Air Force medical programs and projects. In 1987, he was named Command Surgeon at Headquarters, Tactical Air Command
.
Buethe was named Director of Medical Programs and Resources of the Air Force in 1991. He served as Acting Surgeon General of the Air Force in 1994. His retirement was effective soon after.
Awards he received include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, the Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster
, the Meritorious Service Medal
with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
and former Acting Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
The Surgeon General of the United States Air Force is the senior-most Medical Service officer in the U.S. Air Force. In recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service...
.
Biography
Buethe was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1939. He is a graduate of Beloit CollegeBeloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
and the Feinberg School of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, located in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois and situated near Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile, is one of Northwestern University's 11 schools and colleges...
.
Career
Buethe joined the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in 1969. He served four years as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology are the two surgical–medical specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs in their pregnant and non-pregnant state, respectively, and as such are often combined to form a single medical specialty and postgraduate training programme...
at Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
before transferring to Headquarters Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
as Chief of the Clinical Medicine Division, Office of the Surgeon.
In 1974, he was given command of the hospital at Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base covering 3,447 acres in the extreme northeast corner of New York, 20 miles south of the Canadian border...
. He was the youngest hospital commander in the Strategic Air Command at the time at the age of 35. Buethe would later assume command of the hospitals Pease Air Force Base
Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Formerly, the base was open as Pease Air Force Base until it was closed in 1991. Before it was closed, it was under the control of the United States Air Force's Strategic...
and at Barksdale. During his time at Barksdale, he also served as a medical advisor to the Commander of the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
.
In 1980, Barksdale was named Deputy Command Surgeon at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe. While there, he was prominent in the creating the medical standards for the NATO Boeing E-3 Sentry crews. In 1981, he organized and commanded Medical Red Flag-Munich, the Air Force's largest medical readiness exercise.
Buethe transferred to the Office of the Surgeon General after returning to the U.S.. In 1985, he became Director of Medical Plans and Resources after having previously served as Deputy Director. As such, he took part in reviewing and approving all Air Force medical programs and projects. In 1987, he was named Command Surgeon at Headquarters, Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
.
Buethe was named Director of Medical Programs and Resources of the Air Force in 1991. He served as Acting Surgeon General of the Air Force in 1994. His retirement was effective soon after.
Awards he received include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
.