COLONEL HEATHER A. NELSON Colonel Heather A. Nelson is the Commander, 92d Medical Group, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. She commands a group consisting of 3 squadrons delivering highly reliable patient-centered healthcare services to 38,000 beneficiaries assigned to the 92d Air Refueling Wing, 17 partner units, and the local community. Her team of 288 personnel restores health, promotes population health through prevention, and enhances human performance. She oversees a $31 million financial program to ensure readiness and operational support for the full range of military missions.Colonel Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics from Minnesota State University in 1995 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1995. Colonel Nelson is a Registered Dietitian and board certified by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She completed a Master of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2004. She has previously served as Deputy Commander, 87th Medical Group and Commander, 87th Medical Support Squadron at Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Commander, 2d Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base. She has also served as the Pacific Air Forces and Air Force Global Strike Command Consultant Dietitian and held staff positions at Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center and Defense Health Agency.EDUCATION1995 Bachelor of Science, Dietetics, Minnesota State University1996 U.S. Air Force Dietetic Internship, Andrews AFB, Maryland2001 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama2004 Master of Science, Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona2008 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell, AFB, Alabama2017 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AlabamaASSIGNMENTS1. September 1995 - June 1996, Dietetic Intern, 89th Medical Group, Andrews AFB, Maryland2. July 1996 - June 1998, Assistant Health Promotion Manager, 92d Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Washington3. July 1998 - June 1999, Base Dietitian, 92d Aeromedical-Dental Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Washington4. June 1999 - August 2000, Staff Dietitian, 81st Medical Support Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi5. August 2000 - August 2002, Chief, Clinical Dietetics, 81st Medical Support Squadron, Keesler AFB, Mississippi6. August 2002 - May 2004, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Arizona, Tucson7. June 2004 - May 2005, Chief, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany8. June 2005 - May 2006, Flight Commander, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany9. May 2006 - July 2007, Flight Commander, Production and Service, Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany10. August 2007 - June 2008, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama11. June 2008 - November 2010, Chief, Force Development, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas12. November 2010 - June 2011, Chief, Developmental Education, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas13. July 2011 - May 2013, Nutritional Medicine Flight Commander, 673d Medical Support Squadron, Joint Base (JB) Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska14. June 2013 - July 2015, Commander, 87th Medical Support Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey15. May 2014 - July 2015, Deputy Commander, 87th Medical Group, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey16. July 2015 - June 2016, Chief, Market Strategies, Defense Health Agency, Bethesda, Maryland17. July 2016 - May 2017, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama18. June 2017 - June 2019, Commander, 2d Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana19. July 2019 - present, Commander, 92d Medical Group, Fairchild AFB, WashingtonMAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONSDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with seven oak leaf clustersPROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONSRegistered Dietitian, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 1996 - presentBoard Certified Dietitian, Sports Dietetics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2010 - presentOTHER ACHIEVEMENTS1996 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Dietetic Internship1997 Air Mobility Command, Company Grade Dietitian of the Year1997 Air Force Large Base Health Promotion Program of the Year1998 Air Mobility Command, Company Grade Dietitian of the Year2001 Air Education and Training Command, Company Grade Dietitian of the Year2001 Air Force Company Grade Dietitian of the Year2002 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, Mississippi2006 U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Field Grade Dietitian of the Year2011 U.S. Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps Category II, Team of the Year2012 Pacific Air Forces Biomedical Specialist Category II, Field Grade Officer of the Year2013 Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps Category II, Team of the Year2013 Air Mobility Command, Biomedical Sciences Corps Category I, Team of the YearEFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONSecond Lieutenant July 1995First Lieutenant July 1997Captain July 1999Major February 2006Lieutenant Colonel January 2012Colonel September 2019(Current as of September 2019)