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Mental health flight commander wins AF-level award

  • Published
  • By Josh Wilson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Maj. Michael McCarthy of the 82nd Medical Group was named the Air Force's Biomedical Clinician Category III Officer of the Year for 2012 in an announcement last week.

McCarthy, who is the mental health flight commander, was thrilled to receive the award, which was mostly for his work as the Air Force's suicide prevention program manager while on the Air Staff.

"It's very humbling. The Biomedical Sciences Corps is full of smart, talented officers who contribute so much to the Air Force mission," McCarthy said. "I'm proud just to be part of the BSC. To be recognized out of such an outstanding group is a great honor."

McCarthy went on to say the award is just an indication of the emphasis senior Air Force leaders place on caring for our Airmen and helping them to make healthy choices.

The award was period was just prior to McCarthy arriving at Sheppard, but he is glad he now gets to see how policies make it down to wing level.

"It has been very helpful to me to see how the policies I worked on at the Air Staff are implemented at the Wing level," McCarthy said.

The award period was for McCarthy's work may have been prior to his arriving at Sheppard, but McCarthy was quick to praise his leadership at both locations.

"I've been very blessed in my career to serve under great leadership and alongside remarkable officers," McCarthy said. "I would not have received this award without the stalwart support of my colleagues and leadership at Air Force Medical Support Agency, particularly Col. Jay Stone and Col. John Forbes. At Sheppard, Lt. Col. Crump and Lt. Col. Shields went out of their way to submit my award package after I arrived. I'm very grateful they took the time to submit this package."

The USAF Biomedical Clinician award consists of clinicians from the nine medical specialties: physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician's assistants, optometrists, podiatrists, audiologists, speech therapists, psychologists and social workers, with a 42-series Air Force Specialty Code.

The BSC clinician award is given to the top BSC assigned to a Major Medical Center, Category I. The top BSC assigned to a clinic, Category II. Finally, Category III is awarded to BSC clinicians not assigned to an military treatment facility, mainly consisting of BSC clinicians assigned to Air or MAJCOM staff positions or who are embedded in operational units.