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Air Force medical leader retires after 34 years

  • Published
  • By Jon Stock
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFNS) --  During a ceremony filled with military tradition and reflection, the 20th surgeon general of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, retired July 19 after 34 years of service.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz officiated at the ceremony here where he stated that Lt. Gen. Green had the vision of what the Air Force medical field needed during his tenure, what should be championed, how to produce world-class medics and his belief to continue partnering with all others that care.

General Schwartz spoke of General Green's remarkable career through his numerous assignments in the medical field where the overarching comment of commanders was that he was one of the best they have ever seen and how this ultimately made him the best candidate for the top medical leadership assignment in the Air Force.

During the ceremony, General Schwartz presented General Green with the Distinguished Service Medal, second oak leaf cluster, for his service and personal letters of appreciation from President Obama, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and the Air Force Chief of Staff.

General Green thanked General Schwartz and reminisced on the time they have known each other and the opportunity to serve with him over the years.

General Green's most meaningful memory was when retired Lt. Gen. Paul K. Carlton Jr., former Air Force Surgeon General, put him in charge of TRANSCOM and AMC where he was tasked to rebuild the aeromedical evacuation system in a time of war when no one thought an aeroevac system would be there for them.

"After coming together with a plan and seeing it work we have now moved more than 95,000 casualties safely with the system we put together," said the general.

General Green wrapped up his comments by thanking his wife, Becca, for her love and support over the years, as well as their children, and said that he looked forward to their future time together.

Green was commissioned through the Health Professions Scholarship Program and entered active duty in 1978, after completing his doctorate of medicine degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He completed residency training in family practice at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1981, and in aerospace medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, in 1989.

Green is board certified in aerospace medicine, and he planned and led humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines. He also was command surgeon for three major commands, and served as assistant surgeon general for health care operations.

With a chief flight surgeon rating, Green has 1,200 hours in several aircraft, including C-5, C-130 and KC-135.

His last assignment as Air Force Surgeon General he had the responsibility to manage and provide direction of more than 42,000 people assigned to 75 medical facilities worldwide.