Colonel Steven W. Lehr is the commander of the 325th Medical Group, 325th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL. The 325th MDG, comprised of three squadrons including over 300 medical professionals and support staff, serves the dynamically changing health needs of the Florida Gulf Coast community. It does this by delivering superior access, quality care, and service to approximately 36,000 individuals eligible for medical care in the Tyndall community.
Colonel Lehr received his commission in 1994 through the AFROTC program at the University of New Mexico where he was recognized as a distinguished graduate while earning his Bachelors of Science in Nursing. He has held various nursing positions at the base, MAJCOM, and Joint levels and earned his Senior Flight Nursing wings while accumulating flight hours in the C-141, C-130, and C-17. His operational experience includes deployments supporting Operations ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM with tours serving United States Forces Korea and the Joint Staff.
EDUCATION
1994 Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
1997 Flight Nurse Course, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
1999 Air Force Medical Readiness Planner’s Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2002 Contingency Wartime Planning Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Residence Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Critical Care Air Transport Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
2007 Nursing Service Management, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2007 Master of Science Degree in Emergency Management, Trident University, Cypress, Calif.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Residence Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Science Degree in Military Operational Art, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Joint Medical Planner’s Course, Bethesda, Md.
2014 Patient Centered Medical Home Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
2014 Nursing Practice Oversight Course, San Antonio, Texas
2014 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, Texas
2014 Health Care Integrator Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
2014 Air War College, by correspondence
2015 Joint Senior Medical Leader’s Course, Washington, D.C.
2017 Combined Senior Leader’s Course, Washington, D.C.
2018 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1995 - December 1997, Staff Nurse, Perioperative Unit, 99 MDOS, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2. December 1997 - August 2001, Flight Nurse/Chief, Plans & Ops, 43 AES, Pope AFB, N.C.
3. August 2001 - May 2002, Chief JRTC Program Management, HQ AMC/SG, Scott AFB, Ill.
4. May 2002 - June 2003, Executive Officer, HQ USTRANSCOM & AMC/SG, Scott AFB, Ill.
5. June 2003 - August 2004, Chief, AE Exercises & JRTC Program, HQ AMC, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. August 2004 - May 2007, Element Leader, Medical ICU, 759 MSGS, Lackland AFB, Texas
7. May 2007 - August 2008, Nurse Manager, ICU, 3 MDOS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
8. August 2008 - July 2009, Operations Officer, 3 IPTS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
9. July 2009 - June 2010, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2010 - June 2011, Chief, Med. Plans, Ops, & Exercises, USFK, USAG Yongsan, Republic of Korea
11. June 2011 - May 2014, Joint Clinical Ops Officer, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. May 2014 - June 2016, Chief Nurse Executive, 18th Medical Group, Kadena AB, Japan
13. June 2016 - June 2018, Commander, 36th Medical Operations Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
14. July 2018 - present, Commander, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall AFB, FL.
SUMMARY OF DEPLOYMENTS AND JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 1999 - June 1999, Operation ALLIED FORCE, AELT, 212th MASH, Tirana, Albania
2. January 2006 - June 2006, OIF, CCATT, 332 AEW, Balad, Iraq
3. January 2008 - August 2008, OEF, AFCENT/SG LNO, CJTF-82/101, Bagram, Afghanistan
4. February 2009 - April 2009, OEF, AE ADVON, 451 AEG, Kandahar, Afghanistan
5. June 2010 - June 2011, Chief, Med. Plans, Ops, & Exercises, USFK, USAG Yongsan, Republic of Korea
6. June 2011 - May 2014, Joint Clinical Ops Officer, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with two bronze stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
NATO Medal with two bronze stars
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1994 Distinguished Graduate, Reserve Officer Training Corps, University of New Mexico
2005 59th Medical Wing, Company Grade Nurse of the Year
2008 3rd Medical Group, Field Grade Officer of the Year
2015 PACAF Outstanding Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
Board Certified - Nurse Executive
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant - May 1995
First Lieutenant - May 1997
Captain - May 1999
Major - July 2007
Lieutenant Colonel - December 2013
Colonel - October 2018
(Current as of April 2019)