Col. Robert Woolley is the commander of the 27th Special Operations Medical Group, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and was most recently the commander of the 673rd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. In this role, he was responsible for enhancing and supporting the combat capabilities of over 8,000 active duty members across three Air Force Integrated Wings, an Army Brigade and 56 mission partners, and was a key to the United States’ Arctic Defense Strategy. The 673rd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron’s mission is to optimize human performance and readiness through the delivery of mission focused primary and specialty care, embedded operational support, mental health and physical medicine. Additionally, the Squadron oversees base-wide occupational and environmental health programs, population-based wellness initiatives, and provides disaster response to aviation mishaps, chemical, biological, and radiological events.
Col. Woolley commissioned into the Air Force in 1993 as a direct accession after completing his baccalaureate degree in nursing. After several years on active duty, he returned to school to further his medical education. In 1997 he was accepted into the medicine program at the University of Oklahoma and was awarded an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship. Following medical school, Col. Woolley completed internship and residency in internal medicine then continued his training in nephrology, during which he served as chief of fellows. Col. Woolley followed with positions as a staff nephrologist at Wilford Hall Medical Center and David Grant Medical Center, where he lead the only joint DoD/VA hemodialysis unit. He was awarded his Flight Surgeon wings in 2011. Col. Woolley has previously commanded the 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii and the 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England.
Col. Woolley deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan where he provided medical and surgical critical care to US and coalition service members. He also deployed as the Commander, 379th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, supporting Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOMS SENTINEL
Col. Woolley is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Preventive Medicine in General Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Aerospace Medicine.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science, Nursing, University of Utah, UT
2001 Doctor of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, OK
2002 Internship, Internal Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, TX
2004 Residency, Internal Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, TX
2006 Fellowship, Nephrology, University of Texas San Antonio/Wilford Hall Medical Center, TX
2011 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Certified Physician Executive, Senior Developmental Education in-residence equivalence
2016 Master of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, MA
2018 Residency, Aerospace Medicine, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
ASSIGNMENTS
1. February 1994 – August 1994, Nursing Intern, 645th Medical Operations Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH
2. August 1994 – August 1997, Clinical Staff Nurse, Obstetrics, 72nd Medical Operations Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK
3. July 2001 – June 2004, Internal Medicine Resident, 759th Medical Operations Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
4. July 2004 – June 2006, Nephrology Fellow, 759th Medical Operations Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
5. July 2006 – February 2007, Staff Nephrologist, Director of Dialysis, 759th Medical Operations Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX
6. February 2007 – June 2011, Nephrology Services Element Chief, 60th Medical Operations Squadron, Travis AFB, CA
7. June 2011 – June 2013, Chief, Medical Staff, 374th Medical Group, Yokota Air Base, Japan
8. June 2013 – July 2015, Commander, 15th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Joint Base Pearl HarborHickam, HI
9. July 2014 – January 2015, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
10. August 2015 – June 2016, Student, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
11. June 2016 – June 2018, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, Unites States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
12. July 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, UK
13. July 2020 – June 2021, Commander, 673rd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Flight Surgeon
Flight Hours: More than 400 hours
Aircraft: C-17, KC-135, C-5, C-40, C-37 and UH-60
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Meritorious Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six Oak Leaf Clusters