Colonel Christopher Kelly is the Commander and Military Treatment Facility Director of the 7th Medical Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He leads two medical squadrons with 250 personnel providing health services to the 7th Bomb Wing, 317th Airlift Wing, 13 associate units, their families, and retirees. With an operating budget of $13 million, he oversees safe, quality medical care for 20,000 beneficiaries in the Abilene area and ensures medical readiness for 4,700 active-duty Airmen, directly supporting global reach and strike capability. In addition, he generates mission-ready medical professionals for global taskings. He also serves as the senior medical advisor to the two Wing Commanders on all policies and issues impacting the health and wellness of Team Dyess.
Colonel Kelly entered military service in 1995 by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantryman. He transitioned into the Air Force through a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship and graduated from the University of South Alabama with his commission in 1999.
He is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He has extensive outpatient experience in Family Medicine, Aerospace and Operational Medicine clinics. Additionally, he is a National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Affiliate Faculty member that has established five DoD Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training centers. He has deployed as a Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility nurse and deployed for humanitarian relief support as a nurse practitioner.
EDUCATION
1995 United States Marine Corps Basic Military Training/School of Infantry - Parris Island, S.C.
1999 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.
1999 Nurse Transition Program, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2004 Master of Science in Management, Troy University, Troy, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command & Staff College, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Masters of Science in Nursing, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Air Force
Institute of Technology, Bethesda, Md
2014 Air Command & Staff College, AFIT in-residence equivalent, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course (101/201), School of Aerospace Medicine, Ohio
Current as of July 2023
2019 Intermediate Executive Skills – Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, San Antonio, Texas
2020 Air War College, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Masters in Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995 - August 1997, Infantryman, USMCR, 3d Force Recon Company, Mobile, Ala.
2. March 2000 - June 2003, Clinical Nurse, 81st MDOS, Keesler AFB, Miss.
3. June 2003 - December 2007, Family Practice Clinical Nurse, 96th MDOS, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
4. August 2005 - February 2006, Flight Clinical Coordinator, 332nd EMDG Balad, Iraq
(Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM)
5. June 2008 - May 2012, Medical Services Flight Commander, 1st SOMDOS, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. May 2012 - May 2014, Family Nurse Practitioner student, AFIT, Uniformed Services University, Md.
7. May 2014 - June 2019, Aerospace Medicine/Flight Commander, 42nd AMDS, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
8. June 2019 - June 2021, Chief Nurse Executive, 14th MDG, Columbus Air Force Baes, Miss.
9. June 2021 – June 2022, Commander OMRS & Chief Nurse Executive, 39th OMRS, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
10. July 2022 – May 2023, Student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
11. June 2023 – present, Commander, 7th Medical Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Nurse Transition Program Instructor – Instructor Excellence Award - 2003
Military Officers Association: Leadership Award/Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Student Award - 2014
Uniformed Services University: Admiral James Zimble Selfless Service Award - 2014
Air Education & Training Command Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award - 2020
United States Air Force Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award - 2020
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Society of Air Force Nurses
Sigma Theta Tau
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
Military Officer Association (lifetime member)
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification, Family Nurse Practitioner
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Tactical Combat Casualty Care Instructor
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Affiliate Faculty Member
(Current as of July 2023)