Col. Dale Harrell is the Command Surgeon for Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He leads a staff of 36 personnel and is the principal medical advisor to the AFMC Commander supporting all aspects of the AFMC mission and base operational support for United States Space Force installations. Colonel Harrell is responsible for promoting the health and well-being of more than 100,000 military and civilian personnel, implementing safe, high quality healthcare services, and leading execution of the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General’s medical policies and programs for 12 AFMC and USSF military treatment facilities and the 711th Human Performance Wing. He ensures more than 7,000 medical personnel are ready to deploy and able to provide robust medical contingency response, oversees an annual budget of $120 million and a War Reserve Materiel budget of $32 million, and advocates for the delivery of care to 375,000 Military Health System beneficiaries. Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Harrell was the 88th Medical Group MTF Director/Commander, Wright-Patterson AFB.
Col. Harrell enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1991 as an Aerospace Medical Service Specialist followed by a 2005 commission into the Air Force Nurse Corps. He holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Otterbein University and is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelors of Science in Nursing, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Fla.
2001 Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Masters of Operational Art and Design, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Otterbein University, Columbus, Ohio
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Masters of National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 2005-March 2009, Nurse Practitioner/Element Leader, 96th Test Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. (January 2006-February 2006, Nurse Practitioner, Medical Training Exercise, JTF Bravo, Soto AB, Honduras) (March 2007-July 2007, Nurse Practitioner, Expeditionary Medical Support, 506th Air Expeditionary Group, Kirkuk AB, Iraq)
2. March 2009-June 2012, Nurse Practitioner, 86th Medical Group, Ramstein AB, Germany (June 2010-January 2011, Nurse Practitioner, Detention Center, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Bagram AB, Afghanistan)
3. June 2012-July 2013, Nurse Practitioner/Element Leader, 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. July 2013-July 2014, Executive Office to the Wing Commander, 711 Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. July 2014-July 2015, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. July 2015-June 2017, Family Health Flight Commander, 47th Medical Group, Laughlin AFB, Texas
7. June 2017-July 2019, Medical Operations Squadron Commander, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
8. July 2019-July 2020, Student, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington D.C.
9. July 2020-June 2022, Commander, Commander, 78th Medical Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
10. July 2022-July 2024, Commander, 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. July 2024-present, Command Surgeon, Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain January 3, 2005
Major March 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2017
Colonel May 1, 2020
(Current as of August 2024)