Lt. Gen. (Dr.) John J. DeGoes is the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he directly supports a $42 billion Defense Health Program portfolio while exercising significant influence over a $6.1 billion, 44,000-person integrated healthcare delivery and readiness system, serving 2.6 million beneficiaries at 76 military treatment facilities worldwide. He advises the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Space Force Chief of Space Operations, and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs focusing on air expeditionary force medical requirements and the health of Airmen and Guardians. Lt. Gen. DeGoes oversees Air Force Medical Service functions, including clinical operations, aeromedical evacuation, global force management, readiness, strategic medical plans, programs and budget, medical force management, and medical information systems management.
Lt. Gen. DeGoes graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Boston College in 1985. He secured a direct commission in 1985 to attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, where he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha in 1989. He is a chief physician and flight surgeon, board certified in internal medicine, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a Certified Physician Executive.
Prior to assuming his current role, Lt. Gen. DeGoes served as the Deputy Surgeon General. He has commanded the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, the 99th Medical Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the 1st Medical Group at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, and the 31st Medical Operations Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Medical Center, a joint venture between the Air Force and Department of Veterans Affairs, where he oversaw the operation of a 104-bed hospital serving more than 320,000 beneficiaries. Additionally, Lt. Gen. DeGoes served as Command Surgeon for both U.S. Air Force Central Command and NORAD-USNORTHCOM.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor of Science, Biology, Boston College, Boston, Mass.
1989 Doctor of Medicine, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services Univ. of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
1992 Diplomat, American Board of Internal Medicine (Recertification 2002, 2012, 2023)
1999 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2001 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Medical CAPSTONE Course, Washington, D.C.
2012 Federal Interagency Healthcare Executives Course, Washington, D.C
2012 Certified Physician Executive, Certifying Commission in Medical Management, Tampa, Fla.
2013 Fellow, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pa.
2014 Joint Domestic Operations Course, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2018 Capstone Fellow, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1985–June 1989, Medical Student, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
2. June 1989–July 1992, Resident, Internal Medicine, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
3. July 1992–July 1993, Chief of Internal Medicine Residents, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
4. July 1993–June 1996, USUHS Medical Student Coordinator, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. June 1996–September 1996, Staff, Internal Medicine, 81st Medical Operations Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
6. September 1996–May 2000, AMB Care Clinic Element Chief, 81st Medical Operations Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
7. May 2000–September 2002, Chief, Clinical Medical Branch, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
8. September 2002–June 2005, Chief, Medical Staff, 99th Medical Group, Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2005–June 2007, Commander, 31st Medical Operations Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
10. August 2007–February 2009, Commander, 1st Medical Group, Langley AFB, Va.
11. February 2009–June 2010, Command Surgeon, U.S. Air Force Central Command, USCENTCOM/9th Air Force, Shaw AFB, S.C.
12. June 2010–May 2013, Commander, 99th Medical Group, CEO Mike O’Callaghan Federal Medical Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. May 2013–August 2016, Command Surgeon, NORAD-USNORTHCOM, Peterson AFB, Colo.
14. August 2016–June 2018, Vice Commander, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
15. June 2018–May 2021, Commander, 59th Medical Wing, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
16. May 2021–July 2024, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va.
17. July 2024–present, Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: flight surgeon and basic parachutist
Flight hours: more than 240
Aircraft flown: C-130E/H, CH-047D, UH-072A, F-15D, and C-21A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain May 20, 1989
Major May 20, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel May 20, 2001
Colonel May 20, 2007
Brigadier General June 21, 2016
Major General July 3, 2018
Lieutenant General July 31, 2024
(Current as of July 2024)