Dr. Parry's Military Biography
Brigadier General James R. Parry is the Acting Director, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. His directorate is responsible for executing health care policy, plans and programs for the conduct of comprehensive combat and peacetime operational health care for the Air Force Medical Services in support of 43,000 personnel and 76 installations with a budget of more than 6.2 billion dollars.
Brigadier General Parry was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee in June 1997. Prior to receiving his commission, Brigadier General Parry was enlisted for ten years in the Ohio Air National Guard in Food Services and later as an Intelligence Specialist. He attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning his medical degree in 2003. He went on to complete a residency in Otolaryngology in 2008 and a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2009. Brigadier General Parry has served as a Intelligence Officer, Chief of Intelligence, Squadron Flight Surgeon and Chief of Aerospace Medicine throughout his career. In January 2016, Brigadier General Parry was selected to serve as the 179th Airlift Wing Medical Group Commander. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Air National Guard Assistant to the Air Combat Command where he advised the Command Surgeon on medical issues from the gained Air National Guard Wings. Brigadier General Parry has deployed in support of numerous stateside and overseas deployments to include Operation Inherent Resolve, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Southern Watch, Allied Force, Provide Promise, Joint Forge, Cornet Oak, Flintlock, Theater Security Package, and Unified Response.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude), Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
1997 Officer Training School, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air Base, Knoxville, Tenn.
2003 Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Correspondence
2008 Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery Residency, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2009 Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
2009 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2015 Air War College, Correspondence
2016 Medical Group Commanders’ Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2019 CAPSTONE Course for Military Health Services Leaders, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, VA
2021 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute, Intermediate Executive Skills Course, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia
2022 Joint Senior Medical Leadership Course, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Jun 1997 – May 1999, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
2. Jun 1999 – Jul 1999, Intelligence Officer, 86th AW, Ramstein AB, Germany (Operation Allied Force)
3. Aug 1999 – May 2000, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
4. Jun 2000 – Jul 2000, Intelligence Officer, 733rd AEW, Al Jaber AB, Kuwait (Operation Southern Watch)
5. Aug 2000 – Mar 2002, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
6. Apr 2002 – Jun 2002, Intelligence Officer, 320th AEW, Seeb AB, Oman (Operation Enduring Freedom)
7. Jul 2002 – May 2005, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
8. Jun 2005 – Sep 2005, Chief Intelligence Officer, 386th AEW, Ali AL Salem AB, Kuwait (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
9. Oct 2005 – Dec 2009, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
10. Jan 2010 – Jan 2010, Chief Intelligence Officer, 35th EAS Muniz, Puerto Rico (Operation Unified Response)
11. Feb 2010 – Feb 2010, Chief Intelligence Officer, 38th EAS, Ramstein, Germany (Operation Joint Enterprise)
12. Mar 2010 – Jun 2011, Intelligence Officer, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
13. Jul 2011 – Dec 2011, Chief of Intelligence, 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan
14. Jan 2012 – May 2012, Chief Intelligence Officer, 702nd EAS, Kandahar AB, Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)
15. Jun 2012 – Sep 2012, Chief of Intelligence, 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan
16. Oct 2012 – Sep 2014, Squadron Flight Surgeon, 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan
17. Oct 2014 – Dec 2016, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 110th Airlift Wing, Battle Creek, Michigan
18. Jan 2016 – Aug 2016, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
19. Sep 2016 – Sep 2016, Flight Surgeon, USSOUTHCOM, Hurricane Mathew Relief (Operation Coronet Oak)
20. Sep 2016 – Jan 2017, Medical Group Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
21. Feb 2017 – Mar 2017, Flight Surgeon, Special Operations Command Africa (Operation Flintlock)
22. Apr 2017 – Jul 2017, Medical Group Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
23. Aug 2017 – Sep 2017, Flight Surgeon, 506 EARS, Anderson AB, Guam, Theater Security Package
24. Oct 2017 – Jun 2018, Medical Group Commander, 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio
25. Jul 2018 – May 2019, ANG Assistant to the 25th AF Command Surgeon, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
26. Jun 2019 – Nov 2019, ANG Assistant to ACC Command Surgeon, Langley AFB, Virginia
27. Dec 2019 – Mar 2020, Flight Surgeon, 779th EAS, Ali AL Salem, Kuwait, (Operation Inherent Resolve)
28. Apr 2020 – Jul 2022, ANG Assistant to ACC Command Surgeon, Langley AFB, Virginia
29. Aug 2022 – Nov 2022, State Air Surgeon, JFHQ, Michigan ANG
30. Dec 2022 – Present, ANG Assistant to Director, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, HAF, Falls Church, Virginia
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Flight Surgeon, 23 Oct 2009
Total Flight Hours: 554, Combat Flight Hours: 104
Aircraft flown: C-130H, KC-135, C-17
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf cluster
Air Force Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 ‘M’ devices
NATO ISAF Medal (Afghanistan)
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 110th AW (2011)
Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 179th AW (2010)
NGAUS Valley Forge Certificate for Heroism, Heroic Actions during a New Orleans Gang Shooting (2009)
Certification of Recognition for Outstanding Performance during the AMC ORI, 179th AW (2006)
Superior Performer Award, Selected by 9th AF IG Team during the ACC QAFA, 179th AW (1997)
Airmen of the Year, Ohio Air National Guard (1988)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun. 27, 1997
First Lieutenant Jun. 27, 1999
Captain Jun. 27, 2001
Major Jan. 9, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Mar. 29, 2012
Colonel Sep. 15, 2016
Brigadier General Nov. 15, 2022
(Current as of February 2024)