Brigadier General Sarah P. Wells is chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
General Wells was born in Hackensack, N.J., and graduated from Hackensack High School. She received her nursing diploma from Hackensack Hospital in 1948, a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Columbia University in 1961 and a master of science degree in public health supervision from the University of Colorado in 1966.
In December 1951 General Wells joined the Air Force as a first lieutenant and was assigned to the hospital at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. During that assignment she attended the Flight Nurse School at Gunter Air Force Base, Ala. Following graduation General Wells was assigned to Clovis Air Force Base, N.M., from 1953 to 1955. Her next assignment was to the U.S. Air Force Hospital Wiesbaden, Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, Germany. In October 1957 she moved to the U.S. Air Force Hospital at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
In 1959 she entered Teachers College at Columbia University, New York City, and received a bachelor of science degree in nursing in January 1961.
General Wells served at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich., from February 1961 to June 1963, when she was assigned to Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. After flying as a basic medical crewmember for a year, she served as the chief nurse of Detachment 1, 1453rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron until August 1965.
Following this assignment she attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., and received a master of science degree in public health nursing supervision in August 1966.
She was then assigned as administrative nurse, Headquarters Twenty-first Air Force, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. In September 1968 she became nurse adviser for reserve affairs, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. She became assistant for nursing services, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, in July 1970.
Her first assignment to the Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, was as administrative nurse, Office of the Chief, Air Force Nurse Corps, from 1972 to 1975. In July 1975 she become assistant for nursing services, Office of the Command Surgeon, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. In August 1978 she was assigned as command nurse, Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. She held that position until February 1979, when she assumed her present position.
General Wells was designated the senior nurse consultant in flight nursing by the surgeon general in 1973 and consultant in nursing administration in 1977.
She is a member of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States; American Nurses Association; the National League for Nursing; Aerospace Medical Association; Hackensack Hospital Alumna Association; Organization of Continuing Education for American Nurses Overseas; and Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing.
Her military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with service star, Vietnam Service Medal with service Star and Air Force Longevity Service Award ribbon with six oak leaf clusters.
She was promoted to brigadier general May 1, 1979, with date of rank April 26, 1979.
(Current as of February 2021)