MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) GAR S. GRAHAM

Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Gar S. Graham is the Commander, 79th Medical Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. He also serves as the Air Force Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., providing dental 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, he is the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Force District of Washington, Andrews AFB, and the Air Force Medical Component Commander, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. General Graham commands 1,550 Air Force health care professionals who operate in nine locations. The 79th Medical Wing serves as the air evacuation hub for the East Coast, receiving wounded, ill and injured warriors back to the continental United States.

After completing a two-year, hospital-based dental residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and a year in private practice, General Graham received a direct commission into the Air Force Dental Corps. He has taught in the two largest Air Force dental residencies, published 23 professional papers in peer reviewed journals, and lectured extensively on clinical issues, health care management and information management. General Graham has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, served twice as command surgeon, and held senior staff positions in the Air Force Medical Operations Agency and the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General.  He is a Professor Emeritus of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and was central in the creation of the Air Force Postgraduate School of Dentistry.

EDUCATION
1973 Bachelor of Science degree, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1975 Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
1977 Certificate of General Dentistry, Charity Hospital, New Orleans, La., in association with the School of Dentistry, Louisiana State University, New Orleans
1982 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1983 Academic Instructor School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1983 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1986 Master of Science degree, University of Texas at San Antonio
1986 Certificate of Periodontics, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
1988 Air War College, by seminar

ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 1978 - March 1980, staff dental officer, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. April 1980 - July 1981, Chairman, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, WHMC, Lackland AFB, Texas
3. August 1981 - June 1983, Residency Staff dental officer, WHMC, Lackland AFB, Texas
4. July 1983 - June 1986, resident in periodontics, University of Texas at San Antonio, and WHMC, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. July 1986 - March 1988, Assistant Chairman, Department of Periodontics, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, Miss. 
6. April 1988 - June 1992, Chairman, Department of Periodontics, Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, Miss.
7. July 1992 - June 1995, Flight Commander, Clinical Dentistry, 3rd Dental Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
8. July 1995 - May 1997, Commander, 354th Medical Operations Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska
9. June 1997 - June 1998, Commander, 14th Medical Group, Columbus AFB, Miss.
10. July 1998 - June 2000, Commander, 20th Medical Group, Shaw AFB, S.C.
11. July 2000 - April 2002, Director, Community Health Support, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, D.C.
12. May 2002 - March 2003, Deputy Assistant Surgeon General, Medical Programs and Resources, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, D.C.
13. April 2003 - April 2004, Assistant Surgeon General, Medical Plans and Programs, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, D.C.
14. May 2004 - August 2006, Command Surgeon, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo. 
15. August 2006 - present, Commander, 79th Medical Wing, Andrews AFB, Md.; Air Force Assistant Surgeon General for Dental Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.; and Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Force District of Washington, Andrews AFB, Md.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
September 2007 - present, Air Force Medical Component Commander, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., as a major general

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1982 Dental Officer of the Year, Air Force Systems Command
1982 Diplomate, Federal Services Board of General Dentistry
1986 Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology
2006 Delegate, American Dental Association House of Delegates
2007 Fellow, International College of Dentists

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain Oct. 18, 1978
Major Oct. 18, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 30, 1987
Colonel Sept. 30, 1993
Brigadier General July 3, 2006
Major General  Aug. 1, 2007 

(Current as of October 2010)