Col. Melissa J. Dooley is the Command Surgeon at Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. She is responsible for establishing, coordinating, and sustaining a health care system for AFSOC personnel, and for organizing, training and equipping AFSOC medical forces for contingency medical support. As the air component surgeon to USSOCOM, she plans the execution of all Air Force medical support for Air Force Special Operations Forces and serves as the principal Air Force medical service advisor to USSOCOM. Previously she served as the Commander, 60th Medical Group, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base.
Col. Dooley was enlisted from 1992-1996 as a Satellite Communications Maintainer. After completion of her enlistment, she earned her degree from the University of Maryland College Park under a Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. Upon graduation from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine in 2005, she commissioned into the Medical Corps and trained in emergency medicine at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium.
She has participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT, in addition to supporting SOCAFRICA.
EDUCATION
1995 Associates of Arts, Electronic Principles, Community College of the Air Force
2001 Bachelor of Science, in Physiology, University of Maryland, College Park, graduated Cum Laude 2005 Doctor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
2008 Graduate, Residency in Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, Texas
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, Texas
2017 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2017 MedXellence Course, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Germany
2018 Joint Senior Medical Leader Course, Falls Church, Va.
2019 Masters of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Combined Senior Leadership Course, Leesburg, Va.
2020 American Association for Physician Leadership, Certified Physician Executive, Tampa, Fla.
2022 JMESI Military Health System Capstone Course, Falls Church, Va.
2023 Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executive Course, Bethesda, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1992-November 1992, Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. November 1992-June 1993, Satellite Equipment Maintenance School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. June 1993-September 1996, Satellite communication maintenance 789th Communications Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
4. September 1996-May 1997, 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D.
5. May 1997-May 1998, Refuel/POL technician, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, Baltimore, Md.
6. August 2001-July 2005, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
7. July 2005-August 2008, Residency in Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, Lackland AFB, Texas
8. August 2008-April 2011, Staff Emergency Medicine Physician, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
9. May 2011-July 2013, Staff Emergency Medicine Physician, 81st Medical Operations Squadron Keesler AFB, Miss.
10. July 2013-May 2016, Special Operations Surgical Team, 720th Operations Support Squadron, Birmingham, Ala.
11. May 2016-June 2018, Commander 48th Surgical Operations Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
12. July 2018-May 2019, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. May 2019-June 2020, Commander, 96th Medical Operations Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
14. July 2020-June 2022, Commander, 35th Medical Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan
15. July 2022-May 2024, Commander, 60th Medical Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
16. May 2024-present, Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 24, 2001
Captain May 21, 2005
Major May 21, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel May 30, 2016
Colonel May 29, 2020
(Current as of May 2024)