Col. Jeffrey S. Fewell is the Commander, 79th Medical Wing, Air Force Medical Command, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia. He exercises command authority to organize, train, and equip, as well as to ensure the proper health, safety, and welfare for 4,400 personnel across 14 medical groups in support of Air Force District of Washington and Air Combat Command missions. Col. Fewell is responsible for executing medical readiness programs and expeditionary medical capabilities, deconflicting Department of Air Force installation readiness and mission priorities with Defense Health Agency Directors, military treatment facility directors, and installation commanders, executes a $428 million budget, and supports healthcare operations for 183,000 beneficiaries.
Col. Fewell received a direct commission into the Medical Service Corps and graduated from Commissioned Officer Training School in 2001. He has served as a commander at the squadron, group, and wing levels and has held a wide variety of influential positions in clinics and hospitals, as well as gaining vital experience on the staff of two Major Commands, Headquarters Air Force and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Col. Fewell has served as the Administrator of two ambulatory clinics and has in-depth experience in resource management, programming, group practice management, and TRICARE operations. He also has deployment experience as the Medical Operations Officer, Special Operations Command Central Forward Headquarters, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and is board certified in Healthcare Management by the American College of Healthcare Executives. Prior to his current position, Col. Fewell was the Commander of the 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Southern Mississippi, Long Beach, Miss.
2001 Health Services Administration Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Master of Business Administration, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Joint Special Operations Medical Orientation Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, Texas
2020 Combined Senior Leadership Course, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
2021 Defense Financial Management Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Military Health System Capstone Course, Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
2025 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capitol Hill Club, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2001 – May 2003, Chief, Business Analysis Element, 10th Medical Support Squadron, 10th Medical Group, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
2. May 2003 – May 2005, Group Practice Manager, 10th Medical Group, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
3. May 2005 – January 2006, Chief, TRICARE Finance, Office of the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
4. January 2006 – June 2007, Chief, Business Planning, Office of the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
5. June 2007 – June 2009, Chief, Medical Manpower and Force Management Branch, Office of the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
6. June 2009 – July 2012, Medical Support Flight Commander and Operations Officer, Administrator, 423d Medical Squadron, 423d Air Base Group, Royal Air Force Upwood, United Kingdom
7. July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 2013 – July 2014, Chief, Program Strategy, Program Integration Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
9. July 2014 – June 2015, Senior Medical Programmer, Medical Plans and Programs Division, Headquarters Air Force Medical Support Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Va. (October 2014 – April 2015, Medical Operations Officer, Special Operations Command Central Forward Headquarters, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
10. June 2015 – July 2016, Chief, Medical Programming Division, Headquarters Air Force Medical Support Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Falls Church, Va.
11. July 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 72d Medical Support Squadron, Administrator, 72d Medical Group, Tinker AFB, Okla.
12. June 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 96th Medical Support Squadron, 96th Medical Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
13. July 2020 – July 2021, Senior Resource Management Fellow, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense-Comptroller, Defense Health Program, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
14. July 2021 – February 2022, Deputy Commander, 959th Medical Group, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Texas
15. February 2022 – July 2022, Commander, 959th Medical Group, Brooke Army Medical Center, JB San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Texas
16. July 2022 – July 2024, MTF Director/Commander, 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy
17. July 2024 – present, Commander, 79th Medical Wing, Air Force Medical Command, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2014 – April 2015, Medical Planner, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-Syria, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as a lieutenant colonel
2. July 2020 – July 2021, Senior Resource Management Fellow, Defense Health Program, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense-Comptroller, Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 MAJCOM Resource Management Officer of the Year
2004 MAJCOM Young Healthcare Administrator of the Year
2006 Headquarters Air Combat Command, Office of the Command Surgeon, Company Grade Officer of the Year
2015 Medical Service Corps Commitment to Service Award, At-Large Category
2018 Medical Service Corps Commitment to Service Award, Air Force Materiel Command
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant December 24, 2000
First Lieutenant December 24, 2002
Captain December 24, 2004
Major December 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel December 1, 2014
Colonel July 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2025)