Louis Bauer exemplar among exemplars at USAFSAM

  • Published
  • By Kim Bowden
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Because of its 100-year history, the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine has connections to a tremendous number of notable people. Few advanced early aviation medicine, however, like Maj. (Dr.) Louis H. Bauer.

From 1919 until 1925, Bauer served as the first commandant of USAFSAM in its earliest incarnations. In 1926, he established a medical section in the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce -- what would later become the Federal Aviation Administration -- and acted as the first medical director. Three years later, in 1929, Bauer founded the Aerospace Medical Association. Bauer also founded the Journal of Aviation Medicine (now called the Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance Journal) in 1930 and served as the editor for 25 years. In his lifetime, he also led the organizing committee and served as Secretary General of the World Medical Association (1947) and was president of the American Medical Association (1952-1953).

To mark a century of operation, USAFSAM will celebrate throughout 2018. The year will include special heritage events as well as a monthly article highlighting a key “exemplar” from the School’s rich history.