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COLONEL (DR.) RUDOLPH CACHUELA

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Colonel Rudolph Cachuela is the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. As the senior medical advisor to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Colonel Cachuela is responsible for nine medical groups, 3,897 personnel and a budget of $2.9 billion. His team supports three Numbered Air Forces, patient movement across the Pacific and oversees medical contingency planning, medical OPLAN support, tri- service/international medical cooperative engagement activities. He also serves as the JTF-Support Forces Antarctica Surgeon.

Colonel Cachuela received a Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, in 1984 and Medical Degree from St. Louis University in 1988. He completed a one-year General Surgery internship at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, followed by a four-year Orthopaedic Surgery residency. He entered active duty service in 1993 as an orthopaedic surgeon at Luke Air Force Base. In 1994, he graduated from the Aeromedical Primary Course, Brooks AFB, and was awarded his flight surgeon wings. Colonel Cachuela has served as Chief, Medical Staff, 374th Medical Group, Yokota Air Base. He has commanded the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Yokota AB, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, 435th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Ramstein AB, and 779th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews. His staff jobs assignments include Director, Medical Readiness and Deputy Assistant Surgeon General, Strategic Medical Plans, Programs and Budget, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Air Force Forward Surgeon, United States Central Command, Command Surgeon, United States Southern Command, and Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command.

Colonel Cachuela is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a Chief Flight Surgeon with over 650 flight hours to include 73 combat hours.

EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Calif. 1988 Doctor of Medicine, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
1989 General Surgery Internship, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fla. 1993 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fla.
1994 Aeromedical Primary Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
1997 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2000 Air War College, by correspondence
2005 Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives, George Washington University, Washington D.C. 2008 Joint Medical Executive Skills Capstone Symposium, Washington, D.C.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1993 - June 1996, Orthopaedic Surgeon/Flight Surgeon, 56th Medical Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
2. June 1996 - June 1997, Surgical Services Flight Commander, 374th Medical Operations Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
3. June 1997 - June 1999, Chief, Medical Staff, 374th Medical Group, Yokota AB, Japan
4. June 1999 - June 2001, Commander, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
5. June 2001 - June 2003, Commander, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. June 2003 - June 2005, Commander, 435th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
7. June 2005 - June 2007, Deputy Commander, 435th Medical Group, Ramstein AB, Germany
8. June 2007 - January 2009, Director, Medical Readiness, Headquarters Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C.
9. January 2009 - July 2009, Air Force Forward Surgeon, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
10. July 2009 - January 2010, Deputy Assistant Surgeon General, Strategic Medical Plans, Programs and Budget, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va.
11. January 2010 - June 2013, Commander, 779th Medical Group, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
12. June 2013 - July 2017, Command Surgeon, United States Southern Command, Doral, Fla.
13. July 2017 - April 2019, Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
14. April 2019 - Present, Command Surgeon, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Chief Flight Surgeon
Flight Hours: More than 600, including 73 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: B-52, C-9, C-21, C-32, C-40, C-130, C-141, E-8C, F-15D, F-16D, HH-60, and KC-135

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clusters Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star Kosovo Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain May 22, 1988
Major May 22, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel May 22, 2000
Colonel May 22, 2006

(Current as of April 2019)