Maj. Gen. Gretchen S. Dunkelberger is the Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. In this capacity, she serves as an advisor, making recommendations, providing input and proposed solution sets while serving as a sounding board for the Director, Air National Guard, United States Air Force Surgeon General, and Air National Guard Air Surgeon. General Dunkelberger keeps the Air Force Surgeon General informed on external and internal matters as they pertain to the Air National Guard, and conducts courses, special studies and analyses as required or directed. She is also responsible for reviewing proposals on Air National Guard matters of programs, policy and operations. Additionally, she serves as the Senior Medical Officer for the 6,000-plus men and women of the Air National Guard Medical Service.
General Dunkelberger received a direct commission in 1983. Her military experience includes serving as chief nurse executive and commanding seven consecutive years at the squadron and group level. Prior to this assignment she served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Medical Force Development and Nursing Services for three years and also as the Air National Guard Assistant to the 59th Medical Wing, San Antonio, Texas. General Dunkelberger deployed in 2000 as part of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Medical Group, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, and was mobilized in 2001 and 2003 to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of New Hampshire, Durham
1983 Military Indoctrination for Medical Service Officers, Sheppard AFB, Texas
1984 Nursing Service Management Course, by correspondence
1987 Flight Nurse Course, School of Aerospace Medicine, Kelly AFB, Texas
2000 Air Command and Staff College, by seminar
2004 Air War College, by correspondence
2006 Master of Science in Health Sciences, Touro University, Vallejo, Calif.
2011 Joint Executive Medical Skills Institute, Medical CAPSTONE Symposium, Arlington, Va.
2012 Senior Leadership Officer Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1983 - March 1984, Nurse Internship, United States Air Force Regional Hospital, March Air Force Base, Calif.
2. March 1984 - September 1986, Staff Nurse, 28th Strategic Hospital, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
3. September 1986 - March 1988, Clinical Nurse and Assistant Charge Nurse, 22nd Strategic Hospital, March AFB, Calif.
4. March 1988 - February 1990, Assistant Charge Nurse (Obstetrics), 93rd Strategic Hospital, Castle AFB, Calif.
5. February 1990 - October 1995, Individual Ready Reserve, Air Force Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colo.
6. October 1995 - October 1998, Staff Nurse, 157th Medical Squadron, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.
7. October 1998 - March 2002, Chief Nurse, 157th Medical Squadron, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease ANGB, N.H.
8. March 2002 - March 2009, Commander, 157th Medical Group, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease ANGB, N.H.
9. March 2009 - November 2011, Air National Guard Assistant to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas
10. December 2011 - May 2014, Air National Guard Assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General, Medical Force Development and Nursing Services, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. May 2014 - present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFLIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of New Hampshire
Aerospace Medical Association
Aerospace Nursing Society
Association of Air National Guard Nurses
Society of Air Force Nurses
American Nurses Association
Maine Nurse’s Association
Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Eta lota Chapter
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1983
First Lieutenant Aug. 5, 1985
Captain Aug. 5, 1987
Major Oct. 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 30, 2001
Colonel July 1, 2005
Brigadier General Jan. 3, 2012
Major General April 30, 2015
(Current as of April 2017)