Lieutenant General (Dr.) Mark A. Ediger is the Surgeon General of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va. General Ediger serves as functional manager of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service. In this capacity, he advises the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Air Force people. General Ediger has authority to commit resources worldwide for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services, and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions. He exercises direction, guidance, and technical management of a $6.1 billion, 44,000-person integrated health care delivery and readiness system serving 2.6 million beneficiaries at 76 military treatment facilities worldwide.
Prior to his current assignment, General Ediger served as Deputy Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
General Ediger is from Springfield, Missouri. He entered the Air Force in 1985 and has served as the Aerospace Medicine Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, commanded two medical groups, and served as command surgeon for three major commands. He deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Southern Watch.
EDUCATION
1977 Bachelor's degree in chemistry, University of Missouri, Kansas City
1978 Doctor of Medicine degree, University of Missouri, Kansas City
1981 Residency in family practice, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.
1991 Master of Public Health degree, University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio
1992 Residency in aerospace medicine, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1986 – 1988, Chief, Family Practice, Air Transportable Hospital Commander, 1st Medical Group, Langley AFB Va.
2. 1988 – 1990, Flight Surgeon and Chief, Flight Medicine, 94th Fighter Squadron, Langley AFB Va.
3. 1990 – 1992, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
4. 1992 – 1994, Chief, Aeromedical Services, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. 1994 – 1996, Chief, Aerospace Medicine Branch, and Chief, Professional Services Division, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB Texas
6. 1996 – 1998, Chief, Aerospace Medicine Division, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Bolling AFB Washington, D.C.
7. 1998 – 2000, Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
8. 2000 – 2002, Commander, 16th Medical Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
9. 2002 – 2003, Commander, 363rd Expeditionary Medical Group, Southwest Asia
10. 2003 – 2007, Command Surgeon, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. 2007 – 2008, Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB Texas
12. 2008 – 2012, Commander, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Lackland AFB Texas
13. 2012 – 2015, Deputy Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
14. 2015 – 2018, Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: chief flight surgeon
Flight hours: More than 800 hours, including 90 combat support hours and 38 combat hours
Aircraft: C-130, MH-53, F-15, T-38 and KC-135
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
1982, American Board of Family Practice (most recent recertification in 2015)
1992, Aerospace Medicine, American Board of Preventive Medicine
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Major April 28, 1986
Lieutenant Colonel April 28, 1992
Colonel April 28, 1998
Brigadier General April 14, 2008
Major General July 13, 2012
Lieutenant General June 5, 2015
(Current as of May 2018)