Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Leigh A. Swanson is the Air Mobility Command Surgeon and Chief, Air Force Medical Corps, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In this role, she is the chief medical consultant to the AMC Commander, ensuring wartime readiness for over 107,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel and their families at more than 100 operating locations worldwide. Brig. Gen. Swanson also provides emergency management oversight and guidance to 11 military treatment facilities and two aeromedical evacuation squadrons, overseeing a budget of $791 million and assets exceeding $1.6 billion. As Chief of the Air Force Medical Corps, she creates and evaluates policy and programs for more than 3,800 doctors of medicine, supporting 76 military treatment facilities, headquarters and major command organizations.
Brig. Gen. Swanson entered the Air Force in 1994 as part of the Health Promotions Scholarship Program, receiving a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Prior to her current position, she was the Command Surgeon for United States European Command.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Medical Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis.
1997 Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2000 Residency Training in Family Practice, Eglin AFB, Fla.
2000 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Master of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
2006 Aerospace Medicine Residency, Brooks City-Base, Texas
2007 Residency in General Preventive Medicine, Brooks City-Base, Texas
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Washington, D.C.
2016 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute Capstone Course, Washington, D.C.
2021 Leading Strategically Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997–June 2000, Resident in Family Practice, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
2. July 2000–May 2003, Flight Surgeon, 16th Operational Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. May 2003–June 2004, Chief of Flight Medicine, 16th Medical Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. July 2004–June 2005, Student, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
5. June 2005–June 2006, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City-Base, Texas
6. July 2006–June 2007, Resident in General Preventive Medicine, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City-Base, Texas
7. July 2007–July 2009, MDOS Squadron Commander, Deputy MDG Commander, and SGP (Chief of Aerospace Medicine), F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
8. July 2009–Aug 2010, Chief of Aeromedical Services and PRP for AFSPC, Colorado Springs, Colo.
9. Aug 2010–July 2012, AMDS Squadron Commander and SGP, Holloman AFB, N.M.
10. July 2012–May 2013, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. July 2013–July 2014, Deputy Commander, 51st Medical Group, Osan Air Base, South Korea (March– May 2014, Commander, 8th Medical Group, Kunsan AB, South Korea)
12. July 2014–Mar 2015, Deputy Commander, 51st Medical Group, and Deputy Surgeon, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, South Korea
13. Mar 2015–May 2015, Commander, 51st Medical Group, and Command Surgeon, 7th Air Force, Osan AB, South Korea
14. July 2015–June 2017, Commander, 35th Medical Group, Misawa AB, Japan
15. June 2017–June 2019, Commander, 10th Medical Group, Command Surgeon, and Senior Market Manager, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
16. June 2019–April 2021, Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
17. May 2021–June 2023, Command Surgeon, United States European Command, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany
18. July 2023–present, Command Surgeon, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: chief flight surgeon
Hours: more than 545 hours including 55 combat hours
Aircraft flown: AC130H/U, C12, C130E/H, C141, C21, C5, HH60, KC135, MC130E/H, MH47, T1, UH1H/N, UH60, UH72
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Gallant Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Awards with Valor Device with four oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Chief Physician Badge
Chief Flight Surgeon Badge
2002 AFSOC Flight Surgeon of the Year
2002 AF Flight Surgeon of the Year–Malcolm Grow Award
Board Certified in Family Practice, Aerospace Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Associate Fellow of Aerospace Medical Association
Medical License: Alabama
(Current as of January 2024)