Colonel COLONEL CHRISTOPHER W. BATES Col Christopher W. Bates is the Commander, 10th Medical Group, 10th Air Base Wing, and Command Surgeon, U.S. Air Force Academy. Col Bates ensures healthcare for 4,000 cadets in addition to 21,065 active duty, retirees, and their families. He also serves as Deputy Director, Colorado Military Health System market for over 221,000 eligible beneficiaries and ensures deployment preparedness of 700 medics. Prior to this, he served as the Commander of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.Colonel Bates commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001 and earned his Doctor of Medicine in 2005 from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). He is a Pilot-Physician with over 2,000 pilot hours in the T-6, T-1, KC-135, and KC-46, including over 430 combat hours for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. As a flight surgeon and critical care air transport team (CCATT) physician he has also deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQIFREEDOM accruing over 220 combat hours in the UH-60, C-23, C- 130J, C-130H, KC-135, and C-17.He is the sole tanker Pilot-Physician for the USAF and has served in both medical and line units including as the Operations Officer for the KC-46 Air Crew Training Detachment for the 22d Operations Group, the Assistant Operations Officer for the 344th Air Refueling Squadron and the 349th Air Refueling Squadron, and as both a Flight Medicine and Emergency Medicine physician. Additionally, he is a board- certified Emergency Medicine physician, a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and the President of the International Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots.EDUCATION2001 Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.2005 Medical Degree, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.2006 Internal Medicine Internship, SAUSHEC, San Antonio, Texas2006 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks City Base, San Antonio, Texas2011 Emergency Medicine Residency, SAUSHEC, San Antonio, Texas2015 Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.2021 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence2023 Senior Leader Security Seminar, Montross, Va.2023 Joint Senior Medical Leader Course, Falls Church, Va.ASSIGNMENTS1. June 1997-June 2001, Cadet, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.2. August 2001-May 2005, Student, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.3. June 2005-July 2006, Intern, Internal Medicine Internship, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas4. August 2006-June 2008, Flight Surgeon, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas5. June 2008-July 2011, Resident, Emergency Medicine Residency, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas6. August 2011-July 2014, Emergency Medicine Staff, 60th Medical Group, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.7. July 2014-July 2016, Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.8. July 2016-April 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.9. April 2017-December 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 349th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.10. December 2017-January 2020, Assistant Director of Operations, 344th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.11. January 2020-June 2020, Operations Officer, KC-46 Aircrew Training Detachment, McConnell AFB, Kan.12. June 2020-June 2022, Commander, 22d Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan.13. May 2021-June 2022, Deputy Commander, 22d Medical Group, McConnell AFB, Kan.14. June 2022-June 2023, MAJCOM Pilot-Physician, KC-46 Functional Area Manager, Air Force ElementMedical Department of Defense, Falls Church, VA with duties at McConnell AFB, Kan.15. June 2023-April 2024, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar16. June 2024-Present, Commander, 10th Medical Group, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.FLIGHT INFORMATIONRating: Senior PilotFlight hours: Over 2200Aircraft flown: KC-46, KC-135R/T, T-6, & T-1Rating: Senior Flight SurgeonFlight hours: Over 200Aircraft flown: KC-135R, C-130J/H, C-23, C-17, UH-60Rating: Operational Support FlyerFlight hours: Over 100Aircraft flown: KC-135R/T, C-17, & C-130HMAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONSMeritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clustersAir Medal with two oak leaf clustersAerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf clusterAir Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf clusterAir Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf clusterAfghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze StarIraqi Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze StarGlobal War On Terrorism Expeditionary MedalNuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with N deviceNATO Medal(CURRENT AS OF Sept. 2024)