Brig. Gen. Kristin Hillery is Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Medical Command, Medical Readiness Alpha in San Antonio, Texas. In this role, she provides Air Force Reserve consultative leadership and support to the commander responsible for ensuring the successful generation of a medically ready force for Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Mobility Command and Pacific Air Forces, as well as ensuring the medical force is ready to deliver health services support globally for humanitarian and combatant operations.
Brig. Gen. Hillery was commissioned in June 1993 as a graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. She completed health administration training in February 1994, and since then has accumulated an extensive background in the Medical Service Corps functions with six years of active-duty service and 20 plus years in the Reserve. Her reserve time includes serving as a traditional reservist an IMA and as an Active/Guard Reserve member. Brig. Gen. Hillery has commanded one 155-member medical squadron. Prior to her current position, Brig. Gen. Hillery was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency at the Defense Health Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.
While at USAFA, Brig. Gen. Hillery was awarded the Most Valuable Player for the Women’s Basketball team in 1993, earned USAFA’s Scholar Athlete Award. She still holds the record for the single season 3-point shot percentage of 48.6%. Brig. Gen. Hillery volunteered and deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to lead aeromedical patient staging operations in 2006 and 2009. In her civilian career, she has taught for over 20 years as a middle school teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, California.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Health Services Administration School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1998 Master of Arts, Sports Management, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
2001 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Secondary Teaching Credential, National University, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1993–July 1994, Director, Patient Administration, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
2. July 1994–August 1995, Chief, Personnel and Administration Flight, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. Aug 1995–June 1996, Quality Services Officer, Shaw AFB, S.C.
4. June 1996–July 1997, Medical Readiness Officer, Randolph AFB, Texas
5. July 1997–July 1999, Group Executive Officer and Flight Commander, Command Support Staff, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. December 2000–July 2002, Chief, Administrative Services, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
7. July 2002–July 2004, Medical Logistics Flight Commander, March ARB, Calif. (April 2003–May 2003, Command and Control/Logistics Officer Air Staging Facility, Miramar MCAS, San Diego, Calif.)
8. July 2004–June 2010, Administrator, March ARB, Calif. (September 2006–January 2007, Director of Operations Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility, Balad Air Base, Iraq) (July 2009–January 2010 Medical Control Center, Director of Operations and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility Flight Commander, Joint Base Balad, Iraq)
9. June 2010–June 2013, IMA to the Command Administrator, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
10. June 2013–January 2014, IMA for Air Force Strategic Medical Programs and Research, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. January 2014–August 2016, 752nd Medical Squadron Commander, March ARB, Calif.
12. August 2016–March 2019, Reserve Forces Medical Advisor to Air Force Surgeon General, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
13. March 2019–September 2021, Deputy Command Surgeon, Office of the Command Surgeon, AFRC, Robins AFB, Ga.
14. October 2021–October 2024, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
15. October 2024–present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Medical Command, Medical Readiness Alpha, San Antonio, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with gold star
Iraq Campaign Medal with gold star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 2 “M” devices
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1993
First Lieutenant June 2, 1995
Captain June 2, 1997
Major May 6, 2002
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 2, 2007
Colonel May 1, 2013
Brigadier General December 5, 2023
(Current as of January 2025)