Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
Encyclopedia
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
(AFMS). The Surgeon General is usually the senior Medical Corps officer, but acting surgeons general have been from other branches of the medical service.
. But a few Air Force support functions, such as medical care, remained U.S. Army responsibilities for the next two years. Starting in 1948, the Air Force and the Air Surgeon, Maj. Gen. Malcolm C. Grow
(1887-1960), began to convince the U.S. Army and the administration of President Harry S. Truman
that the Air Force needed its own medical service. In the summer of 1949, Air Force General Order No. 35 established a medical service with the following officer personnel components: Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Medical Service Corps
, Air Force Nurse Corps
, and Women’s Medical Specialist Corps.
United 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 recent times, this has been a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
who serves as head of the United States Air Force Medical Service
Air Force Medical Service
The United States Air Force Medical Service consists of the five distinct medical corps of the Air Force and enlisted medical technicians. The AFMS was created in 1949 after the newly independent Air Force’s first Surgeon General, Maj. General Malcolm C. Grow , convinced the United States Army...
(AFMS). The Surgeon General is usually the senior Medical Corps officer, but acting surgeons general have been from other branches of the medical service.
History
In September 1947 the combat elements of the Army Air Forces separated from the U.S. Army, forming 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...
. But a few Air Force support functions, such as medical care, remained U.S. Army responsibilities for the next two years. Starting in 1948, the Air Force and the Air Surgeon, Maj. Gen. Malcolm C. Grow
Malcolm C. Grow
Major General Malcolm C. Grow was the first Surgeon General of the United States Air Force from July 1, 1949 to November 30, 1949.-Biography:...
(1887-1960), began to convince the U.S. Army and the administration of President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
that the Air Force needed its own medical service. In the summer of 1949, Air Force General Order No. 35 established a medical service with the following officer personnel components: Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Veterinary Corps, Medical Service Corps
Medical Service Corps
Medical Service Corps may refer to:* Medical Service Corps -a branch of the Air Force Medical Service* Navy Medical Service Corps -a service of the United States Navy...
, Air Force Nurse Corps
Nurse Corps
Most professional militaries employ specialised military nurses. They are often organised as a distinct nursing corps.-Well-known nursing corps:* U.S...
, and Women’s Medical Specialist Corps.
List of Surgeons General of the United States Air Force
| No. | Name | Dates of Tenure | Military Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malcolm C. Grow Malcolm C. Grow Major General Malcolm C. Grow was the first Surgeon General of the United States Air Force from July 1, 1949 to November 30, 1949.-Biography:... |
July 1, 1949–November 30, 1949 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 2 | Harry G. Armstrong | December 1, 1949–June 30, 1954 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 3 | Dan C. Ogle Dan C. Ogle Major General Dan Clark Ogle was the third Surgeon General of the United States Air Force.-Biography:Ogle was born at Keithsburg, Illinois, in 1901... |
July 1, 1954–November 30, 1958 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 4 | Oliver K. Niess | December 1, 1958–December 1, 1963 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 5 | Richard L. Bohannon | December 2, 1963–November 30, 1967 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 6 | Kenneth E. Pletcher | December 1, 1967–April 30, 1970 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 7 | Alonzo A. Towner | May 1, 1970–July 31, 1972 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 8 | Robert A. Patterson | August 1, 1972–July 31, 1975 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 9 | George E. Schafer | August 1, 1975–July 31, 1978 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 10 | Paul W. Myers | August 1, 1978–July 31, 1982 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 11 | Max B. Bralliar | August 1, 1982–July 31, 1985 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 12 | Chesney, Murphy A. | August 1, 1985–July 31, 1988 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 13 | Miller, Monte B. | August 1, 1988–July 31, 1991 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 14 | Sloan, Alexander M. | August 1, 1991–July 11, 1994 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| * | Robert A. Buethe Robert A. Buethe Robert A. Buethe is a retired Major General and former Acting Surgeon General of the United States Air Force.-Biography:Buethe was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1939. He is a graduate of Beloit College and the Feinberg School of Medicine.-Career:... (Acting) |
July 12, 1994–September 25, 1994 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 15 | Edgar R. Anderson, Jr. Edgar R. Anderson, Jr. Lieutenant General Edgar Ratcliffe Anderson Jr. was the 15th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C.... |
September 26, 1994–November 14, 1996 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 16 | Charles H. Roadman II Charles H. Roadman II Lieutenant General Charles H. Roadman II was the 16th United States Air Force Surgeon General , Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C.... |
November 15, 1996–October 10, 1999 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| * | Wyrick, Michael K. (Acting) | October 11, 1999–October 31, 1999 | Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general... |
| 17 | Paul K. Carlton, Jr. Paul K. Carlton, Jr. Lieutenant General Paul Kendall Carlton Jr. was the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.... |
November 1, 1999–October 14, 2002 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 18 | George P. Taylor George P. Taylor Lieutenant General George Peach Taylor Jr. USAF was the 18th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Taylor served as the senior Air Force officer responsible for comprehensive management of the Air Force Medical Service... |
October 15, 2002–July 31, 2006 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 19 | James G. Roudebush James G. Roudebush Lieutenant General James Gordon Roudebush, USAF, is the Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. General Roudebush serves as functional manager of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service... |
August 1, 2006–August 11, 2009 | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
| 20 | Charles B. Green Charles B. Green Charles B. Green is a Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force and the current Surgeon General of the United States Air Force.-Career:... |
August 12, 2009– Present | Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... |
See also
- Surgeon General of the United States Army
- Surgeon General of the United States NavySurgeon General of the United States NavyThe Surgeon General of the United States Navy is the senior-most medical corps officer in the United States Navy.- Establishment of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery :...