Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Max B. Bralliar is surgeon general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
General Bralliar was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1927. He received a bachelor of science degree from Madison College, Tenn., and a doctor of medicine degree from Loma Linda (Calif.) University in 1950. The general began his internship at Nashville General Hospital, Tenn., in July 1950, entered on active military duty in October 1950 and continued his internship under the Air Force Institute of Technology program. He served his residency in surgery and proctology at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, New Orleans, from September 1953 to November 1957.
After completing his internship in October 1951, General Bralliar served as a medical officer with the 434th and 464th Troop Carrier Wings at Atterbury Air Force Base, Ind., and Lawson Air Force Base, Ga. In September 1953 General Bralliar entered the Ochsner Foundation in New Orleans to serve a three-year residency in surgery and a one-year residency in proctology. After completion of his residency, he was assigned to the 7520th U.S. Air Force Hospital at South Ruislip Air Station, England, to perform duty as surgeon and, later, as chief of surgical services.
He returned to the United States in October 1960 for duty at the Air Force hospital at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., where he served successively as chief, surgical services; chief, surgical division; director of medical staff; chief, flight medicine; and director of aerospace medicine. From May 1964 to August 1967, General Bralliar was commander of the Air Force hospital at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He then served for three years as commander of the Air Force dispensary at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.
In August 1970 he transferred to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., where he commanded the Air Force regional hospital until July 1972. He then took command of the USAF Medical Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. From April 1975 to February 1980, General Bralliar was the command surgeon, Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
General Bralliar returned to Europe in February 1980, assuming the position of command surgeon, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In March 1981 his responsibilities were greatly extended as he was elevated to the position of command surgeon, U.S. European Command, encompassing medical services of the Army and Navy as well as the Air Force. He assumed his present duties in August 1982.
During his career General Bralliar supported 15 National Aeronautics and Space Administration manned space flights as part of the launch site recovery teams. He was one of four flight surgeons on the teams for eight of the 10 manned flights of Project Gemini, which began with Gemini-Titan I April 8, 1964, and was completed Nov. 15, 1966, with the flight of Gemini-Titan-Agena 12.
He also acted as flight surgeon on the teams for Apollo 14, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 (January 1971 through December 1972), plus all manned Sky Lab flights (Sky Labs I/II in May 1973; Sky Lab III in July 1973; and Sky Lab IV in November 1973). In July 1975 he participated in the prelaunch recovery exercise in preparation for the launching of Apollo-Soyuz. His responsibilities included the immediate care of the astronauts, if the mission had to be aborted, and up until the spacecraft made orbital insertion.
General Bralliar is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a fellow of the American Proctologic Society, a fellow of the American College of Physician Executives and a senior member of the Air Force Society of Clinical Surgeons. In addition, he is a member of the Alton Ochsner Surgical Society, American Medical Association, Aerospace Medical Association, The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and associate member of the Society of Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces. He is certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
The general holds the aeronautical rating of chief flight surgeon. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm; Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Gugseon Medal; Federal Republic of Germany Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit, badge and star; Federative Republic of Brazil Grand Master of the Order of Aeronautical Merit; and Venezuelan Air Force Cross 2nd Class.
He was promoted to lieutenant general Aug. 19, 1982, with same date of rank.
(Current as of March 1984)