Colonel Brenda I. Waters is the Commander, 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Colonel Waters is responsible for five squadrons providing a full spectrum of healthcare operations supporting a beneficiary population of approximately 8,900. These operations include inpatient and outpatient care, medical readiness activities, medical training, base aeromedical, occupational and public health support, and health promotions activities.
Prior to assuming her role as the 31st Medical Group Commander, Colonel Waters was the Chief Nurse of the 99th Medical Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. She led and mentored 558 nursing personnel in a 52-bed medical center supporting 238K DoD beneficiaries with an operating budget of $89.7M. Colonel Waters coordinated and evaluated nursing practices for 3 in-patient units and 10 out-patient clinics providing care for 4K admits along with 342K clinical and emergency room visits annually. Colonel Waters also guided a 14 member Education and Training department providing training for 6 Graduate Medical Education platforms, 135 Nursing Training Program and Aerospace Medicine Phase II students yearly. Additionally, Colonel Waters collaborated daily with the Veteran Affairs’ Chief Nurse to maximize joint venture capabilities.
Colonel Waters was commissioned in 1990 after graduating from Hunter-Bellevue College, New York. She launched her military career as a nurse intern at Lackland AFB, Texas where she acquired valuable knowledge while working in specialty areas of Pediatrics and Neonatal ICU. Aspiring to be more involved in patients’ perioperative care, Colonel Waters cross-trained into the OR program and was assigned to Travis AFB, California as the Nurse Manager for Pediatrics and Ear, Nose and Throat services. She then separated from active duty and joined the Reserves where she was stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida as a clinic nurse and consultant to the OR.
In 2000 to rejuvenate her Air Force career, Colonel Waters returned to active duty and was stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida where she was the operations officer for the daily activities of the OR. Then in 2004, Colonel Waters relocated to Yokota AB, Japan, to become the Deputy Chief Nurse and Deputy Squadron Commander. Afterwards, Colonel Waters held varies flight commands and the deputy squadron commands positions at Travis AFB. Following her tour at Travis AFB, Colonel Waters was assigned as Commander of the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, TX.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing,
New York 1997 Squadron Officer School (residence), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2001 Masters of Science in Counseling and Psychology, Troy State University,
Alabama 2003 Air Command and Staff College (seminar)
2010 Air War College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1990 – February 1991, Nurse Internship Program, Lackland AFB, TX
2. February 1991 – August 1991, Staff Nurse, Pediatric Unit, Lackland AFB, TX
3. August 1991 – January 1995, Staff Nurse, Neonatal ICU, Lackland AFB, TX
4. January 1995 – October 1998, Nurse Manager, Pediatric, ENT, Travis AFB, CA
5. October 1998 – April 2000, Clinical Nurse, Aeromedical Staging Facility, Patrick AFB, FL
6. April 2000 – September 2003, Staff Nurse, Operating Room, Eglin AFB, FL
7. September 2003 – June 2004, Element Chief, Central Sterile Supplies and Operations Officer, Operating Room Eglin AFB, FL
8. June 2004 – April 2006, Surgical Service Element Chief, General Surgery, Yokota AB, Japan
9. April 2006 – April 2007, Squadron Operations Officer, Medical Operations Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
10. April 2007 – June 2008, General Surgery Clinic Element Chief, Deputy Squadron Commander, Surgical Operations Squadron; Deputy Chief Nurse, Medical Group, Yokota AB, Japan
11. June 2008 – November 2010, Operating Room, Flight Commander; Deputy Squadron Commander, 60th Surgical Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
12. December 2010 – June 2012, Joint Inpatient Mental Health, Flight Commander; Deputy
Squadron Commander, 60th Inpatient Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
13. July 2012 – July 2014, Commander, 59th Surgical Operations Squadron, JBSA - Lackland, TX
14. July 2014 – Mar 2016, Chief Nurse, 99th Medical Group
15. Mar 2016 – present, Commander, 31st Medical Group, Aviano AB, IT
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
AF Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Certified Nurse Operating Room
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 25 May 1990
First Lieutenant 8 July 1992
Captain 8 July 1994
Major 1 April 2003
Lieutenant Colonel 1 May 2009
Colonel 1 May 2014
Current as of August 2016