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U N I T E D S T A T E S A I R F O R C E
COLONEL CHRISTIAN R. BENJAMIN
He previously served as Commander of Task Force MED-East. Task Force MED-East supports operations in Eastern and Northern Afghanistan. He also supported the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing as the 455th Expeditionary Medical Group Commander and Hospital Commander of the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, a major referral hospital and aeromedical hub for U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Colonel Benjamin was born in McCall, Idaho. He was first commissioned a second lieutenant upon entering the Health Professions Scholarship Program in 1982. Following medical school, he entered active duty as a captain in June 1986. He has degrees from The College of William and Mary, Medical College of Virginia, and Harvard School of Public Health. Colonel Benjamin has completed residency training and board-certification in family medicine and aerospace medicine. He has held a variety of medical assignments, from clinical practice in family medicine to operational practice in flight medicine. He previously commanded a clinic, a hospital, a Field Operating Agency, and an expeditionary hospital in OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). As an active chief flight surgeon, Colonel Benjamin has more than 1,200 hours flying in a variety of aircraft, including 125 combat hours in OIF and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. EDUCATION 1982 Bachelor of Science in Biology, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va. 1986 Doctor of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 1989 Residency in Family Practice, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif. 1994 Air Command and Staff College, non-resident 1996 Masters in Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass. 1998 Air War College, non-resident 1998 Residency in Aerospace Medicine, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas ASSIGNMENTS 1. July 1986 - June 1989, family practice resident, later chief resident, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, Calif. 2. June 1989 - July 1992, family practice physician, later, Assistant Chief Clinical Services, 52nd Medical Squadron, Spangdahlem, Germany 3. July 1992 - Jul 1995, Chief, Flight Medicine, 49th Medical Group, Holloman AFB, N.M. 4. August 1995 - June 1996, student, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass. 5. July 1996 - June 1998, resident in aerospace medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas 6. July 1998 - July 2002, Clinic Commander, classified AFFTC 7. July 2002 - October 2003, Chief, Medical Operations Center, Headquarters Air Force, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. 8. November 2003 - June 2004, Commander, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. 9. June 2004 - July 2007, Commander, 10th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and the Academy Cadet Clinic, United States Air Force Academy, Colo. 10. July 2007 - May 2010, Commander, 99th Medical Group and the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. 11. May 2010 - May 2011, Commander, Task Force MED-East, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan 12. June 2011 - present, Commander, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio FLIGHT INFORMATION Aeronautical Ratings: Chief Flight Surgeon Flight Hours: 1200+ hours in 22 different aircraft, 125 combat hours Assigned Aircraft: F-16, F-15, C-9, T-38, HH-60, C-21, MC12 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit Bronze Star Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters Air Medal Air Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Army Achievement Medal National Defense Service Medal Antarctic Achievement Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal NATO Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant 22 Apr 1982 Captain 17 May 1986 Major 17 May 1992 Lieutenant Colonel 17 May 1998 Colonel 17 May 2004 (Current as of June 2011) | |||||
