BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES R. PARRY
Brigadier General James R. Parry is the Acting Director of Medical Operations, office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters United States Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. His directorate is responsible for executing health care policy, plans and programs for the conduct of comprehensive combat and peacetime operational health care for the Air Force Medical Services in support of 43,000 personnel, and 76 installations with a budget of more than 6.2 billion dollars.
Brigadier General Parry was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee in June 1997. Prior to receiving his commission, Brig. Gen. Parry was enlisted for ten years in the Ohio Air National Guard in Food Services and later as an Intelligence Specialist. He attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning his medical degree in 2003. He went on to complete a residency in Otolaryngology in 2008 and a fellowship in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in 2009. Brig. Gen. Parry has served as an Intelligence Officer, Chief of Intelligence, Squadron Flight Surgeon, and Chief of Aerospace Medicine throughout his career. In January 2016, Brig. Gen. Parry was selected to serve as the 179th Airlift Wing Medical Group Commander. Brig. Gen. Parry has deployed in support of numerous stateside and overseas deployments to include Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH, ALLIED FORCE, PROVIDE PROMISE, JOINT FORGE, CORONET OAK, FLINTLOCK, THEATRE SECURITY PACKAGE, and UNIFIED RESPONSE. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Air National Guard Assistant to the Air Combat Command where he advised the Command Surgeon on medical issues from the gained Air National Guard Wings.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude), Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
1997 Officer Training School, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
2003 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Residency, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2009 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
2009 Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air Force Medical Group Commanders’ Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Joint CAPSTONE Course for Military Health Services Leaders, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va.
2021 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, Intermediate Executive Skills Course, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va.
2022 Joint Senior Medical Leadership Course, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1997 - May 1999, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
2. June 1999 - July 1999, Intelligence Officer, 86 AW, Ramstein Air Base, Germany (Operation ALLIED FORCE)
3. August 1999 - May 2000, Intelligence Officer, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
4. June 2000 - July 2000, Intelligence Officer, 733d Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait (Operation SOUTHERN WATCH)
5. August 2000 - March 2002, Intelligence Officer, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
6. April 2002 - June 2002, Intelligence Officer, 320 AEW, Seeb AB, Oman (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM)
7. July 2002 - May 2005, Intelligence Officer, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
8. June 2005 - September 2005, Chief Intelligence Officer, 386 AEW, Ali AL Salem AB, Kuwait (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM)
9. October 2005 - December 2009, Intelligence Officer, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
10. January 2010 - January 2010, Chief Intelligence Officer, 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico (Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE)
11. February 2010 - February 2010, Chief Intelligence Officer, 38 EAS, Ramstein, Germany (Operation JOINT ENTERPRISE)
12. March 2010 - June 2011, Intelligence Officer, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
13. July 2011 - December 2011, Chief of Intelligence, 110 AW, Battle Creek, Mich.
14. January 2012 - May 2012, Chief Intelligence Officer, 702 EAS, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM)
15. June 2012 - September 2012, Chief of Intelligence, 110 AW, Battle Creek, Mich.
16. October 2012 - September 2014, Squadron Flight Surgeon, 110 AW, Battle Creek, Mich.
17. October 2014 - December 2016, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 110 AW, Battle Creek, Mich.
18. January 2016 - August 2016, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
19. September 2016 - September 2016, Flight Surgeon, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Hurricane Mathew Relief (Operation CORONET OAK)
20. October 2016 - January 2017, Medical Group Commander, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
21. February 2017 - March 2017, Flight Surgeon, U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA in Operation FLINTLOCK)
22. April 2017 - July 2017, Medical Group Commander, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
23. August 2017 - September 2017, Flight Surgeon, 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Anderson AB, Guam (Operation THEATER SECURITY PACKAGE)
24. October 2017 - June 2018, Medical Group Commander, 179 AW, Mansfield, Ohio
25. July 2018 - May 2019, Air National Guard Assistant to the 25th Air Force Command Surgeon, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
26. June 2019 - November 2019, ANG Assistant to the Command Surgeon, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
27. December 2019 - March 2020, Flight Surgeon, 779 EAS, Ali AL Salem, Kuwait (Operation INHERENT RESOLVE)
28. April 2020 - July 2022, ANG Assistant to ACC Command Surgeon, Langley AFB, Va.
29. August 2022 - November 2022, State Air Surgeon, Joint Force Headquarters, Michigan ANG, Mich.
30. November 2022 - Present, ANG Assistant to the Director, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters Air Force, Falls Church, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Flight Surgeon
Flight hours: 554, Combat Flight Hours: 104
Aircraft flown: C-130H, KC-135, C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1988 Airmen of the Year, 179th Airlift Wing
1988 Airmen of the Year, Ohio Air National Guard
1995 Superior Performer Award, Selected by 9th AF IG Team during the ACC ORI, 179 AW
1997 Superior Performer Award, Selected by 9th AF IG Team during the ACC QAFA, 179 AW
2006 Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 179 AW
2009 NGAUS Valley Forge Certificate for Heroism, Heroic Actions during a New Orleans Gang Shooting
2010 Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 179 AW
2011 Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 110 AW
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 27, 1997
First Lieutenant June 27, 1999
Captain June 27, 2001
Major Jan. 9, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel March 29, 2012
Colonel Sept. 15, 2016
Brigadier General Nov. 15, 2022
(Current as of September 2024)
