Colonel CHRISTOPHER G. GONZALES

Colonel Christopher G. Gonzales is the Commander, 23rd Medical Group, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, home of the legendary “Flying Tigers” where 5,000 assigned Airmen execute pararescue and combat operations employing HC-130Js, HH-60Ws and A-10C aircraft. His staff of 290 serves over 18,000 beneficiaries across 8 facilities, with a $15.5M annual operations and maintenance budget and an additional $23M in purchased care. The group maintains 46 combat programs and war reserve materiel valued at $5.7M. The Medical Group provides outpatient family medicine, pediatric, dental, occupational, flight medicine, preventive health services and pararescue support programs.

Col Gonzales entered the military in March of 2000, accepting a commission in the Army where he deployed to Bosnia and later led a vanguard scout platoon during operation Iraqi Freedom. Since joining the Air Force, Col Gonzales has held positions as Flight Commander, Facility Administrator, and Group Practice Manager within medical facilities and has served on both the Air Mobility Command and Central Command staff agencies. He has deployed as a Medical Operations Planner to Afghanistan where he managed 52 medics across the region as they provided medical coverage and mentorship to the Afghan forces. Prior to this assignment, Col Gonzales served as the Chief, Medical Support Division, Office of the Command Surgeon, Air Mobility Command (AMC) Headquarters, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
2005 Masters of Business Administration, Capital University, Columbus, OH
2008 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2020 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. Mar 2000 – Mar 2004, Scout Platoon Leader; Executive Officer, Fort Stewart, Georgia
2. Mar 2004 – Feb 2007, Instructor, Army ROTC, Dennison University, Dennison, Ohio
3. Mar 2007 – May 2007, Student, Health Services Administration Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
4. May 2007– Feb 2008, Intern, Medical Logistics, Travis AFB, California
5. Feb 2008 – Aug 2011, Medical Logistics/Readiness Flight Commander; Group Practice Manager Vandenberg AFB, California
6. Aug 2011 – Jun 2013, Instructor, Medical Logistics, Health Services Administration Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
7. Jul 2013 – Jun 2014, Fellow, Air Mobility Command Readiness Program, Scott AFB, Illinois
8. Jun 2014 – Jun 2016, MEFPAK Branch Chief, Air Mobility Command Headquarters, Scott AFB, Illinois
9. Jun 2016 – Sep 2017, SGA; Medical Operations Flight Commander; Deputy MTF Commander, McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
10. Sep 2017 – Jul 2018, Commander, 62nd Medical Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
11. Jul 2017 – Aug 2020, Commander, 436th Medical Support Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
12. Aug 2020 – Jun 2023, Chief, Medical Support Division, AMC/SG Scott AFB, Illinois
13. Jun 2023 - Present, Commander, 23rd Medical Group, Moody AFB, Georgia

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
NATO Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain 16 Feb 2007
Major 01 Oct 2011
Lieutenant Colonel 01 Mar 2016
Colonel 01 Mar 2023

(CURRENT AS OF JUNE 2023)