Col. Catherine M. Callender is the commander, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. She leads a team of 277 personnel providing both outpatient primary care and specialty care services in support of 25,000 eligible beneficiaries. Colonel Callender also oversees the execution of a 14.7 million dollar operating budget, ensuring the medical readiness of all military personnel within the 325th Fighter Wing, as well as its 19 mission partners, including First Air Force (Air Forces Northern), 601st Air Operations Center, 53d Weapons Evaluation Group, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and 337th Air Control Squadron and Silver Flag.
Colonel Callender received her commission as an officer in the United States Air Force in March 2004, and she completed her psychology residency at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 2005. Since then, Colonel Callender deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Operation new Dawn in which she served as the CENTCOM SERE Psychologist. Colonel Callender also served as the Department of the Air Force’s Director of Psychological Health in which she was responsible for forecasting and executing the strategic direction of the Mental Health enterprise and advising over 35,000 Department of the Air Force Medics, while shaping critical Congressional legislation and Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, and Department of the Air Force policy on key aspects of mental health operations and readiness. Prior to her current position, Colonel Callender served as Commander, 88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Arts, Education, University of Florida, Gainesville
1994 Master of Arts, Education, University of Florida, Gainesville
2000 Master of Science, Counseling, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas
2004 Air Force Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Air Force Psychology Residency Program, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2005 Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens
2008 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004 – August 2005, Clinical Psychology Resident, 88th Medical Operations Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. August 2005 – August 2007, Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program Manager, 20th Medical Operations Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C. (January 2007 – July 2007, Staff Psychologist, 732nd Expeditionary Support Squadron, Ali Base, Iraq)
3. August 2007 – September 2008, Mental Health Element Leader, 51st Medical Operations Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
4. October 2008 – August 2011, Director of Psychological Health, 45th Medical Operations Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla. (January 2011 – July 2011, CENTCOM SERE Psychologist, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
5. August 2011 – July 2013, Mental Health Flight Commander, 45th Medical Operations Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
6. July 2013 – June 2014, IDE Student, Air Command and Staff College, 21st Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2014 – March 2016, Chief, Force Development, Air Force Personnel Center, JBSA Randolph, Texas
8. March 2015 – June 2016, Chief, Assignment and Workforce Development Support Branch, Air Force Personnel Center, JBSA Randolph, Texas
9. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 412th Medical Operations Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
10. July 2018 – June 2019, SDE Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. June 2019 – September 2020, Commander, 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
12. September 2020 – June 2021, Commander, 81st Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
13. July 2021 – July 2023, Department of the Air Force Deputy Director of Psychological Health, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, Defense Health Headquarters, Va.
14. July 2023 – May 2024, Commander, 88th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
15. June 2024 – Present, Commander, 325th Medical Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with 3 oak leaf clusters
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Board of Professional Psychology
American Psychological Association
(Current as of July 2024)