Colonel (Dr.) Robert R. York Jr. is the commander of the 30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB, California. He commands 209 military and civilian personnel as they deliver high-quality, patient-centered, primary and specialty care, dental treatment, and ancillary services within an outpatient clinic setting. Colonel York develops strategic plans to ensure compliance with civilian and military health care regulatory standards, vectors strategic alignment with 30th Space Wing priorities, and aspires to achieve the Air Force Medical Service goals of producing the healthiest beneficiary population by 2025. Dedicated to improving the lives of its 14,000 beneficiaries, the 30th Medical Group supports the wartime readiness and Western Range operations of Team Vandenberg’s 14th Air Force, 30th Space Wing, and associated partner units charged with assuring access to and from space for our nation’s strategic priorities.
Colonel York was commissioned into the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corp in August 1996, after completing graduate work in Cellular Biology and Molecular Genetics. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and entered active duty in June of 2000. He completed his residency in Family Practice from Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), NE in 2003; Aerospace Medicine at Brooks City-Base, TX in 2008, and Occupational Medicine at Brooks City-Base, TX in 2009. He earned his Masters in Public Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MD, with an emphasis in Toxicology and Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Emergency Medical Response. Colonel York is certified in Disaster Preparedness and quadruple board certified in Family Practice, Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Certified Physician Executive.
Colonel York has twice served as a Squadron Commander: at the 325th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Tyndall AFB, FL, and at the 51st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Osan Air Base (AB), ROK. While at Osan AB, Colonel York also served as the Contingency Hospital Commander. Colonel York has been a Staff Physician, Element Chief Aeromedical Services, Deputy Chief of Hospital Services, and chairman of the Occupational Health Working Group at the 49th MDG, Holloman AFB, NM. Finally, Colonel York was assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron as the Squadron Medical Element, 49th Fighter Wing.
Colonel York has deployed to the Republic of Korea, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jamaica in support of humanitarian relief efforts, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE
1995 Masters of Science in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE
1997 School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX
2000 Doctorate of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, NE
2001 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks AFB, TX
2003 Residency in Family Practice, Offutt AFB, NE
2005 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2007 Masters of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MD
2007 Medical Officer Familiarity Flight Training, Randolph AFB, TX
2008 Air War College (correspondence)
2008 Residency in Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City-Base, TX
2009 Residency in Occupational Medicine, Brooks City-Base, TX
2011 American College of Physician Executives, Tampa, FL
2014 Joint Senior Medical Leadership, Washington D.C.
2015 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Fort Myer, VA
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1996 – May 2000, Student, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
2. May 2000 – Jun 2003, Family Practice Resident, later Chief Resident, Offutt AFB, NE
3. Jun 2003 – Jun 2006, Element Chief Aeromedical Services, 49th Medical Group, Holloman AFB, NM
4. May 2005 – Jun 2006, Squadron Medical Element, 8th FS, 49FW, Holloman AFB, NM
5. Nov 2004 – Jun 2006, Deputy Chief of Medical Staff, 49th Medical Group, Holloman AFB, NM
6. Jun 2006 – Jun 2007, Student, AFIT training at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MD
7. Jun 2007 – Jun 2009, Resident, Aerospace Medicine, USAFSAM, Brooks-City Base, TX
8. Jul 2009 – Jul 2011, AMDS Commander, 51st Medical Group, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
9. Jul 2011 – Jul 2013, AMDS Commander, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall AFB, FL
10. Jul 2013 – Jul 2016, Branch Chief, Flight and Operational Medicine, AFMOA, JBSA, TX
11. Jul 2016 – Present, Commander, 30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB, CA
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Flight Surgeon
Flight hours: More than 630 including 21 combat hours
Aircraft flown: C-12, C-17, C-23, C-130, E0-09, E5-OC, F-16, KC-10, KC-135, T-6, T-43, T-38, UH-1, UH-60
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Malcolm C. Grow Flight Surgeon of the Year Award
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Outstanding Unit Award with Valor with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air & Space Campaign Ribbon
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
AF Expeditionary Service with Gold Border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 Air Combat Command Flight Surgeon of the Year
2010 USAF Julian E. Ward Award Nominee
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
“Regulation of Insulin-Like Binding Proteins -2, -4, and -5 in the Human Lung Fibroblast CaLu-6”, May 1995
“Chemoprophylaxis in Low-Density, High-Demand USAF Assets”, May 2007
“2008 SoUSAFFS State of the Flight Surgeon”, May 2008
“You’re the Flight Surgeon: Prostate Cancer, Erectile Dysfunction, and Seizure”, Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, 2009; 80(7):670-1
“Eating Disorders”, Air Force Waiver Guide, April 2008
“Eating Disorders”, http://asams.org/guidelines.htm, May 2008
Ionizing Radiation Clinical Practice Guidelines – ExxonMobil, June 2009
USAF Maintainer Head Injury Analysis and Prevention - Proposed Study and Intervention, June 2009
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Federal Healthcare Executive Institute Alumni Association
American Academy of Family Physicians
Aerospace Medical Association
Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians
Society of U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeons
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 8 Aug 1996
Captain 7 May 2000
Major 7 May 2004
Lieutenant Colonel 31 May 2008
Colonel 31 May 2014
(Current as of Jul 2016)