MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) GERARD A. CARON Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Gerard A. Caron is the Commander, 79th Medical Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md. He also serves as the Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In this position, Caron provides policy and operational advice to the Air Force Surgeon General on matters involving the dental practice of 1,000 dentists and 2,500 technicians. In addition, Caron is the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews. The 79th Medical Wing consists of 1,550 Air Force health care professionals operating in eight locations providing medical forces for expeditionary deployment, homeland defense operations, joint operations worldwide as well as Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital under the National Capital Region Medical Directorate, Defense Health Agency. The wing also serves as the air evacuation hub for the East Coast, receiving wounded, ill and injured warriors back to the continental United States. After serving in the Commissioned Corps, United States Public Health Service, National Health Service Corps and four years in private practice, General Caron received a direct commission into the Air Force Dental Corps. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, including a deployed location in Southwest Asia, and held senior staff positions in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General and at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command. His professional honors include Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, Fellowships in the American College of Dentists and International College of Dentists. EDUCATION 1975 Bachelor of Arts degree, chemistry, St. Anselm College, Manchester, N.H. 1978 Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass. 1988 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 1989 Air Command and Staff College, outstanding graduate, by seminar 1992 Residency in comprehensive general dentistry, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. 1992 Air War College, outstanding graduate, by seminar 1996 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Washington, D.C. 1998 Dental Fellowship, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, D.C. 2002 Military Healthcare System Executive Skills Capstone Course, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 2006 Joint Task Force Surgeons Course, Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. ASSIGNMENTS 1. August 1986 – July 1989, general dental officer, Loring Air Force Base, Maine 2. July 1989 – May 1992, Chief, Dental Examination and Diagnosis, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England 3. June 1992 – July 1994, resident in comprehensive dentistry, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. 4. July 1994 – July 1996, Clinical Dentistry Flight Commander, Lajes Field, Azores 5. July 1996 – June 1998, Dental Services Fellow, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C. 6. July 1998 – June 2000, Dental Programs Manager, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C. 7. July 2000 – July 2001, Commander, 11th Dental Squadron, Bolling AFB, D.C. 8. July 2001 – June 2003, Commander, 59th Dental Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 9. July 2003 – January 2005, Commander, 17th Medical Group, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas 10. February 2005 – January 2006, Deputy Assistant Surgeon General, Health Care Operations, and acting Dental Corps Chief, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C. 11. February 2006 – June 2006, Dental Corps Chief, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C. 12. July 2006 – July 2007, Chief of Dental Policy and Operations, Health Care Operations Directorate, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling AFB, D.C. 13. August 2007 – May 2010, Deputy Command Surgeon, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas (January 2009 – July 2009, Commander, 376th Expeditionary Medical Group, Manas Air Base, Kyrgyz Republic) 14. June 2010 – September 2010, special assistant to the Commander, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas 15. September 2010 – present, Commander, 79th Medical Wing, and Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Joint Base Andrews, Md. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal United States Public Health Service Citation National Defense Service Medal with bronze star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, 1978 Master, Academy of General Dentistry, 1995 Alternate Delegate, American Dental Association House of Delegates, 1998-1999 Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry, 2001 Delegate, American Dental Association House of Delegates, 2005-2006 Fellow, International College of Dentists, 2006 Fellow, American College of Dentists, 2011 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS American Dental Association Academy of General Dentistry American Board of General Dentistry American College of Dentists International College of Dentists Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Air Force Association Military Officers Association PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS Dental Licenses: Maine, New Hampshire Federal Services Board of General Dentistry American Board of General Dentistry EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Major July 21, 1986 Lieutenant Colonel April 8, 1992 Colonel April 8, 1998 Major General Nov. 3, 2010 (Current as of October 2013)