MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) JAMES G. SANDERS

Major General (Dr.) James G. Sanders is deputy surgeon general, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

General Sanders was born in 1930, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and graduated from Lamar High School, Houston, in 1948. He received a bachelor of arts degree in zoology from the University of Texas in 1952 and a doctor of medicine degree from the Baylor University College of Medicine in 1957. He completed Air War College in 1977 and is a graduate of the National Defense University. His general rotating internship was obtained at Hermann Hospital in Houston.

He entered active duty by direct appointment in July 1958. The general attended the basic orientation course for medical officers at Gunter Air Force Station, Ala., and later the primary course in aviation medicine at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In October 1958 he was assigned to the dispensary at Moore Air Base, Texas, first as a flight surgeon and then as commander. He was stationed at James T. Connally Air Force Base, Texas, in January 1961 as a flight surgeon and acting commander prior to returning to Hermann Hospital in July 1961 for a three-year Air Force-sponsored residency in obstetrics and gynecology. In his final year of training, he served as chief resident and was involved in several research papers and projects. He was president of the house staff and was named Most Outstanding Resident.

From July 1964 to August 1966 he was chief of hospital services and chief of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. He also served as hospital commander. In September 1966 he transferred to the 805th Medical Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as hospital commander and served in that capacity until July 1968. The 805th Medical Group received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award under General Sanders' command.

He resigned his regular commission in 1968 to go into the private practice of obstetrics and gynecology in Nacogdoches, Texas. During the next five years he was twice elected to two-year terms on the Nacogdoches County Hospital District Board, the governing body for the Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital; served as president of the Nacogdoches County Medical Society; and was county health officer, Nacogdoches County.

General Sanders re-entered the Air Force in June 1973 and was assigned to Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., as deputy hospital commander and chief of hospital services. From July 1974 until July 1975 he was commander of the Air Force Hospital, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. He then transferred to the Air Force Hospital, Pease Air Force Base, N.H., as commander. The general was assigned as commander, Air Force Regional Hospital, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, in July 1976. The Carswell Regional Hospital received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award under General Sanders' command.

In July 1979 he began two years as team chief, Directorate of Medical Inspection, Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, Calif. During his tour of duty, the center received the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award. General Sanders was assigned as command surgeon, Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in July 1981. In March 1983 he transferred to Randolph Air Force Base as surgeon of the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center. In July 1985 he became command surgeon of Air Training Command at Randolph. He was assigned as commander of Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., in May 1986. He became command surgeon of Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in February 1987. When the U.S. Transportation Command was activated in October 1987, the general also assumed the duties of command surgeon for the new joint command. He assumed his present position in October 1988.

General Sanders is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology; a diplomate of the American Board of Medical Management; a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; fellow of the American College of Physician Executives; and a member of the American Medical Association, Air Force Society of Clinical Surgeons, Interagency Institute of Federal Health Care Executives, Aerospace Medical Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and American Academy of Medical Directors. He is a military consultant in obstetrics and gynecology to the Air Force surgeon general. General Sanders has delivered more than 5,000 babies in his career.

The general is a chief flight surgeon with 2,850 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters, and National Defense Service Medal.

He was promoted to major general Aug. 1, 1988, with same date of rank.

(Current as of June 1991)