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General Travis takes command of 59th MDW

  • Published
  • By Sue Campbell
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  -- Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis became the 59th Medical Wing's commander here Monday, taking the helm of the Air Force's medical flagship, Wilford Hall Medical Center.

Gen. William R. Looney III, commander of Air Education and Training Command, presided at the ceremony, which took place at the flagpole near the hospital's main entrance.

General Travis comes to Lackland following an assignment as command surgeon, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he was responsible for the health of ACC's global team through worldwide medical contingency operations; a comprehensive, community-based health care system; and human-in-the-weapon system expertise and support. Additionally, he served as the U.S. Southern Command Air Forces and U.S. Northern Command Air Forces surgeon, responsible for providing medical services to deploying Combat Air Force forces; and served as the Air Force's medical global force provider, supporting the U.S. Joint Forces Command and the U.S. Central Command.

One of the Air Force's few pilot-physicians, General Travis is board certified in aerospace medicine. He is a command pilot and chief flight surgeon, with more than 1,800 flying hours. He has flown the F-4, F-15 and F-16 as mission pilot and, most recently, the Royal Air Force Hawk as senior medical officer and test pilot.

As commander of the 59th MDW, General Travis leads the Air Force's largest medical facility with a staff of 5,650 and a $265 million budget. As a Level 1 trauma center, it provides 3,340 mobility positions for Air and Space Expeditionary Forces and produces more than 1 million visits and 27,000 admissions each year. Additionally, each year the wing conducts 600 research studies and trains 500 officers in 44 post-graduate medical/dental programs and 400 officers/enlisted in 20 allied health fields.

"In my 30 years in uniform, there has never been a time when the medics were more visible and vital as part of this nation's combat capability," said General Travis. "The enroute care system is a joint system that is working hard and well to support our injured, ill and wounded warfighters of all services."

General Travis spoke about the San Antonio military medical system being involved in every part of that care, to include training resuscitative care on the battlefield, enroute care and the tertiary care and rehabilitative services provided to warriors when they return home.

"It is a joint capability," he said. "Make no mistake about it, our future lies in enhancing this joint capability, while preserving our service cultures and doctrinal responsibilities. What happens here in the next few years will in a large part determine the future operational medical capability of our armed services. I think that's exciting. As we proceed down the path of merging the two world class military medical teaching platforms here in San Antonio, we have to make sure that we build superb operational medical capability for the future. Our nation will accept no less."

During the ceremony, General Looney recognized the achievements of the 59th MDW and its previous commander, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) David G. Young, and presented General Young with the Distinguished Service Medal.

"The 59th Medical Wing is the crown jewel of Air Force military medicine," said General Looney. "The way you responded and dealt with the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was amazing...you treated the victims of that disaster as if they were your own. Also, in every inspection this unit has seen during the last two years, you achieved the highest ratings and accolades."

General Looney said of all the units he possesses in AETC, the 59th MDW is the most combat proven and battle tested unit, with the largest number of deployment positions of any unit in the Air Force.

"When you go over there, your performance is absolutely magnificent in every respect," he said. "Day after day you snatch life out of the jaws of death, you bring compassion in the midst of suffering, you bring hope in the midst of despair and kindness in the face of so much cruelty."