Colonel Richard L. Woodruff Jr. is the Commander, 375th Medical Group, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In this role, he is responsible for the health care delivered to over 60,000 beneficiaries by 588 military, civilian, and contract personnel operating under a $33M budget. By ensuring mobility ready medics and Airmen, the group supports the diverse mission set of the 375th Air Mobility Wing and 36 mission partners to include Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command and 18th Air Force Headquarters.
In addition, the medical group executes a unique military-civilian Family Medicine Residency, a 1-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, and two Phase II enlisted training programs in Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Ultrasound. The organization is designated as a pilot unit for the Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility, enabling the mission of the Air Mobility Command’s Surgeon General. Finally, the group’s Medical Equipment Repair Center sustains 38 DoD sites over an 11-state region.
Prior to assuming his role as the 375th Medical Group Commander, Colonel Woodruff served as the Commander Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. There he commanded four Squadrons providing medical support optimizing human performance for US and NATO mission in the European Southern Region. His group provided medical support to 8,400 beneficiaries, including 1200 PRAP personnel, and earned 1 of 4 DoD Advancement toward High Reliability Healthcare awards for patient engagement.
Colonel Woodruff received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 1994. He has served in a variety of Wing, MAJCOM, and Air Staff-level assignments. After completing his Master’s Degree he was assigned as the environmental health consultant to the PACAF SG where he worked at over 20 MOBs/COBs/GSUs across the PACOM AOR. As part of his Air Staff tour he deployed as the liaison officer to the United States Mission-Iraq’s Health Attaché, Multi-National Forces-Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He also served as the HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA Deputy Chief of Staff providing guidance in organizing, administering, and leading the synchronization of operational planning efforts in support of United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and European Commands (USEUCOM). Then for the HQ he was entrusted as the Squadron Commander where he commanded 2100 military and civilian members across 15 directorates, managing over $4B in programs. Following his European Tour he transitioned back to PACAF where he commanded the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan, ensuring combat readiness in support of WESTPAC’s humanitarian & global contingency operations.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science, Environmental Engineering, US Air Force Academy, Colo.
2000 Squadron Officer School, in residence
2002 Master of Science, Nuclear Environmental Engineering, Clemson University, S.C.
2006 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Dec 1994 - Aug 1998, Deputy Flight Commander Bioenvironmental Engineering, 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (AMC), MacDill AFB, Fla.
2. Aug 1998 - Aug 2000, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight Commander, 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (AMC), Dover AFB, Del.
3. Aug 2000 - Aug 2002, Student, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
4. Aug 2002 - May 2005, Chief, Environmental Services Branch, Det 3, 311th Human Systems Wing (AMC), Kadena AB, Japan
5. May 2005 - Aug 2006, Chief, Environmental Operations, AF Medical Operations Agency, Bolling AFB, D.C.
6. Aug 2006 - Jun 2009, Chief, Contingency Operations, AF Medical Support Agency, Bolling AFB, D.C.
7. Nov 2007 - May 2008, Liaison Officer to US Mission-Iraq’s Health Attaché, MNF-I, Baghdad, Iraq
8. Jun 2009 - Jun 2011, Chief, Contingency Operations, 3rd AF (USAFE), Ramstein AB, Germany
9. Jun 2011 - Apr 2012, Command Bioenvironmental Engineer, HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. Apr 2012 - Jun 2014, Deputy Chief of Staff, HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
11. Jun 2014 - Jun 2015, HQ Squadron Commander, HQ USAFE-AFAFRICA, Ramstein AB, Germany
12. Jul 2015 – Jul 2018, 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Commander, 374th Medical Group, Yokota AB, Japan
13. Jul 2018 – Jul 2020, 31st Medical Group Commander, Aviano AB, Italy
14. Jul 2020 – Present, 375th Medical Group Commander, Scott AFB, IL.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun 1, 1994
First Lieutenant Jun 1, 1996
Captain Jun 1, 1998
Major Aug 1, 2004
Lieutenant Colonel Jan 1, 2011
Colonel May 1, 2018
(Current as of October 2020)