Col. (Dr.) Christopher E. Backus is the Command Surgeon, U.S. Transportation Command, and senior advisor to the USTRANSCOM Commander, the Department of Defense single manager for global patient movement activities of wounded, ill and injured patients during peacetime, overseas contingency operations, and defense support to civilian agencies. In this capacity, he also serves as the Director, Global Patient Movement Operations and provides recommendations on multimodal patient movement procedures and doctrine, clinical guidance, patient movement equipment standardization and automated information systems.
Col. Backus was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Oklahoma and served in several flying assignments, graduating Pilot Training from Vance Air Force Base, Okla., where he continued as a T-37 Instructor Pilot, later instructing in the C-17 at McChord AFB, Wash. He obtained his medical training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Aerospace Medicine Primary course. He earned his board certification in Family Medicine after completion of residency training. Additionally, he has held numerous positions within the Air Force Medical Service to include Flight Surgeon, and Chief of Aerospace Medicine.
He is a Senior Pilot and a Senior Flight Surgeon with more than 3,750 flight hours, and over 350 combat hours in T-37, T-1,C-17, KC-10, E-3, HC-130, and HH-60 aircraft.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, University of Oklahoma, Okla.
1998 Joint Specialized Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2001 Squadron Officer School, in residence
2002 C-17 Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification, Altus AFB, Okla.
2004 C-17 Initial Instructor Pilot Course, Altus AFB, Okla.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 Doctor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
2013 Family Medicine Residency, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif.
2014 C-17 Instructor Pilot Requalification, Altus AFB, Okla.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Certified Physician Executive through AAPL
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1997 - 1998 Student Pilot, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. 1998 - 2002 T-37 Instructor Pilot, 8th Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla.
3. 2002 - 2003 C-17 Aircraft Commander / Chief of Mobility, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
4. 2003 - 2005 C-17 Instructor / Squadron Executive Officer, 4th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.
5. 2005 - 2006 C-17 Instructor / Wing Military Deception Officer, 62d Airlift Wing, McChord AFB, Wash.
6. 2006 - 2010 Medical Student, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.
7. 2010 - 2013 Family Medicine Resident, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. 2013 - 2014 Flight Surgeon, 673d Aeromedical Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska
9. 2014 - 2016 C-17 Pilot-Physician, 517th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska
10. 2016 - 2018 Commander, 87th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
11. 2018 - 2019 Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. 2019 - 2020 Commander, 99th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. 2020 - 2021 Commander, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
14. 2021 - 2023 Commander, 55th Medical Group, Offutt AFB, Neb.
15. 2023 - 2024 Command Surgeon, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. 2024 - present Command Surgeon, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2021 Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association
2013 - present Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine
2011 - present Medical License in Virginia
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 28, 1997
First Lieutenant May 28, 1999
Captain May 28, 2001
Major November 12, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel May 31, 2016
Colonel May 29, 2020
(Current as of February 2026)