Col. Danielle Cermak is the commander of the 27th Special Operations Medical Group, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and was most recently the Division Chief and Panel Chair, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. In this role, she represents the Medical Operations Directorate, developing and executing policy, plans and programs to maintain the force standards and medical readiness for the 498,000 Total Force Airmen and Guardians. She facilitates administrative oversight for health professional experts in 7 divisions, while ensuring the Air Force Surgeon General is informed on diverse topics ranging from clinical, aerospace, mental health, dentistry, public health, information technology, and medical support policy.
Colonel Cermak graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy with a degree in Biochemistry in 2000 after receiving several leadership and Outstanding Student Service Awards. She was commissioned into the Air Force as an HPSP scholarship recipient by Brigadier General Peter S. Sutton on May 3, 2000. Col Cermak then attended Commissioned Officer Training from June to July 2000. She received her Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency training in Family Medicine at Andrews AFB as part of the National Capital Consortium. Her first assignment was as a staff physician at the Family Health Clinic at the United States Air Force Academy. She has held several positions within the clinic to include Family Practice Didactic Program Coordinator, 44FX Readiness Skills Verification Coordinator, Special Needs Identification Assignments Coordination and Family Member Relocation Clearance Clinician, Population Health Working Group Clinician Representative, Primary Care Advisor to the Women’s Health Working Group, and Family Health Initiative Lead. She has also served as an Element Chief at USAFA, Family Health Medical Director at Peterson AFB, Chief of the Medical Staff at Shaw AFB, and Chief of Clinical Services for the PACAF Command Surgeon, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. As chief physician, she supported the clinical policy execution, planning & programming for 3.4K staff with $150M budget. She has also served as Commander, 460th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Buckley Garrison, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado which supports worldwide contingency operations with space operations components and delivers medical support for 7,600 active duty and family members.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Magna Cum Laude, University of Detroit Mercy, Mich.
2004 Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Mich.
2007 Residency Training completed in Family Medicine, National Capital Consortium, Andrews AFB, Md.
2010 Completed the Civilian Personnel Management Course (CPMC)
2011 Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute (JMESI) In-Residence Course
2013 Allergy Short Course for Allergy Extender Certification In-Residence Course 2013 Air Command and Staff College by Correspondence 2014 Intermediate Executive Skills (IES) In-Residence Course
2014 AFMS Access Improvement Seminar In-Residence Course
2015 Patient Centered Medical Home Executive Leadership Seminar
2015 Military Health System (MHS) Female Physician Leadership Course
2017 Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Basic Certificate in Quality & Patient Safety
2017 USAFSAM Medical Incident Investigation Workshop In-Residence Course
2019 USUHS Medical Executive Skills (MedXellence) Course
2020 Air War College by Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2000 – July 2000, Officer Candidate, Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala.
2.August 2000 – May 2004, Medical Student, Health Professions Scholarship Program, East Lansing, Mich.
3.July 2004 – June 2007, Family Practice Resident, 89th Medical Operations Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
4.July 2007 – June 2010, Family Physician, 10th Medical Operations Squadron, United States Air Force Academy,Colo.
5.Jan 2008 – May 2008, Family Physician, 386th Air Expeditionary Medical Support, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
6.June 2010 – July 2012, Family Practice Falcon Element Chief, 10th Medical Operations Squadron, United States AirForce Academy, Colo.
7.July 2012 – July 2013, Family Physician, 21st Medical Operations Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
8.July 2013 – June 2014, Family Health Medical Director, 21st Medical Operations Squadron, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9.June 2014 – June 2016, Chief of the Medical Staff, 20th Medical Group, Shaw AFB, S.C.
10.June 2016 – June 2017, Medical Corps Force Management Fellow, Office of the Surgeon General, Defense HealthHeadquarters, Falls Church, Va.
11.June 2017 – June 2020, Chief, Clinical Services, Office of Command Surgeon, Pacific Air Forces, Hawaii
12.June 2020 – May 2022, Commander, 460 Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Buckley Garrison, BuckleySFB, Colo.
13.May 2022 – present, Chief/Panel Chair, Medical Operations, Office of the Surgeon General, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air & Space Outstanding Unit Award w/ six oak leaf clusters
Air & Space Organizational Excellence Award
Air & Space Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Air & Space Longevity Service Award three oak leaf clusters
Air & Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2015 Paul W. Myers Award, Air Force Association National Aerospace Award
2015 AFMS Chief of the Medical Staff Commitment to Excellence Award
2023 College of Engineering & Science All Star Award – Biochemistry, University of Detroit Mercy
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine
Member, American Medical Association (AMA)
Member, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Member, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP)
Member, American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL)