Colonel R. Craig Lambert is the Commander, 628th Medical Group, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. He is responsible for the overall operation of medical services and medical readiness for the 628th Air Base Wing and 437th Airlift Wing, providing healthcare for approximately 63,000 eligible beneficiaries, managing 270 group personnel and an annual operating budget of $11.1 million. He ensures 628th Air Base Wing and 437th Airlift Wing Airmen are medically prepared to support the 60+ Joint Base Charleston mission partners and combatant commanders worldwide. The 628th Medical Group is also a partner in the Lowcountry Federal Healthcare Alliance, one of only 12 DoD/VA Joint Venture sites in the United States. Prior to his assignment at Joint Base Charleston, Colonel Lambert was the Chief, Medical Support Division and Command Administrator, Office of the Command Surgeon, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA.
Colonel Lambert entered active service as an Air Force line officer, performing duties as a missile launch officer, instructor, and flight commander. In 1999, he was selected to become a Medical Service Corps officer and completed the Health Services Administration Course as a distinguished graduate. Colonel Lambert is a three time medical squadron commander, including deployed squadron command at Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram, Afghanistan.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Healthcare Management (cum laude), University of Alabama
1998 Masters in Business Administration, University of Wyoming
1999 Health Services Administration Course (distinguished graduate), Sheppard AFB, TX
2001 Squadron Officers School (residence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2006 Military In-house Fellowship, Health Plans Management, HQ AETC, Randolph AFB, TX
2008 Joint Executive Medical Skills Seminar & Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, TX
2009 Air War College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1995 - August 1995, student, Undergraduate Space/Missile Training and Undergraduate Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA
2. August 1995 - August 1999, Missile Crew Commander, Instructor, Assistant Flight Commander and Flight Commander, 400th Missile Squadron/90th Operations Support Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, WY
3. September 1999 - November 1999, student, Health Services Administration, Sheppard AFB TX
4. November 1999 - July 2002, Chief Information Officer and Medical Information Services Flight Commander, 347th Medical Support Squadron, Moody AFB, GA
5. July 2002 - May 2004, Business Operations and Beneficiary Support Flight Commander, 2d Medical Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
6. May 2004 - June 2005, TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration Flight Commander, 2d Medical Support Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA
7. June 2005 - June 2006, Military In-House Fellowship, Health Plans Management, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Office of the Command Surgeon, Randolph AFB, TX
8. July 2006 - July 2009, Health Plans Management/Patient Administration Branch Chief, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Office of the Command Surgeon, Langley AFB, VA
9. July 2009 - August 2010, Commander, 45th Medical Support Squadron and Administrator, 45th Medical Group, Patrick AFB, FL
10. September 2010 - July 2011, Commander, 45th Medical Support Squadron, Administrator and Deputy Commander, 45th Medical Group, Patrick AFB, FL
11. July 2011 – June 2012, Commander, 81st Medical Support Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
12. June 2012 – December 2012, Commander, 455th Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron & Administrator, Craig Joint Theater Hospital, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
13. January 2013 – July 2013, Commander, 81st Medical Support Squadron, Keesler AFB, MS
14. July 2013 – July 2015, Health Benefits Support Branch Chief and Health Benefits Division Deputy Chief, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland-Kelly, TX
15. July 2015 – July 2016, Chief Medical Support Division and Command Administrator, Office of the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA
16. July 2016 – Present, Commander, 628th Medical Group, Joint Base Charleston SC
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver leaf cluster and one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor device with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Combat Readiness Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2001 Air Combat Command Medical Information Systems Officer of the Year
2001 347th Medical Group CGO of the Year
2003 Air Combat Command Health Plan Management Officer of the Year
2008 Air Combat Command Commitment to Service Award
2010 Air Force Space Command Commitment to Service Award
NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
2002 Certified Diplomate in American College of Healthcare Executives
2016 Recertified Fellow in American College of Healthcare Executives
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant 5 November 1996
Captain 5 November 1998
Major 1 September 2004
Lieutenant Colonel 1 January 2009
Colonel 1 September 2015
(Current as of August 2016)