Brigadier General James P. Jernigan is the chief professional consultant to the surgeon general, U.S. Air Force, and chief of the Consultants Division, Directorate of Professional Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
General Jernigan was born in 1914 in Rector (Clay County) Ark. He received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1940, after having received a degree in chemistry from Jonesboro College, Jonesboro, Ark., and a bachelor of science degree (pre-med) at Ouachita College in Arkadelphia, Ark.
General Jernigan entered active military duty in December 1941. He has served as battalion surgeon, collecting company commander, clearing company commander, and medical battalion executive officer with the 25th Infantry Division, in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. From September 1950 to January 1951 he served as commander, 403d Evacuation Hospital, Fort Bragg, N.C., and in January 1951, went to the 91st Medical Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., as assistant chief of surgery. He was transferred to the 3400th Medical Group, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., in June 1951 where he served as chief of surgery for three months, chief of professional services for two and one-half years, and as commander of the Medical Group for a period of twelve months. General Jernigan was reassigned to the 1600th U.S. Air Force Hospital, Westover Air Force Base, Mass., in January 1954 where he served as chief of surgery and chief of professional services.
He was assigned as chief of consultants group and chief consultant in surgery at the 7112th Central Medical Group in Wiesbaden, Germany, in July 1956. Three years later he was transferred to Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Hospital, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, serving as chief, General Surgery Service and later, as Chairman, Department of Surgery. He assumed the position of director of hospital services in October 1960, a position he held for three and one-half years. In January 1964 he was reassigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where he was commander of the U.S. Air Force Hospital Travis (later redesignated David Grant U.S. Air Force Hospital). He was assigned as WESTAF Surgeon (now 22d Air Force), with additional duty of commander, U.S. Air Force Hospital Travis in February 1965 and assumed duties as chief professional consultant to the surgeon general in July 1967.
General Jernigan was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1952. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and holds membership in the American Medical Association, the Aerospace Medical Association, the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons (founders group and president 1960-61), the Society of the Air Force Flight Surgeons, and the Air Force Association. He has also been a member of the Denver Academy of Surgery and the San Antonio Surgical Society. General Jernigan is a chief flight surgeon.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
(Current as of March 1, 1968)