Major General Gretchen S. Dunkelberger is the Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.

In this capacity, she serves as an advisor, making recommendations, providing input, and proposing solution sets while serving as a sounding board for the Director, Air National Guard, United States Air Force Surgeon General, and Air National Guard Air Surgeon. General Dunkelberger keeps the Air Force Surgeon General informed on external and internal matters pertaining to the Air National Guard, and conducts courses, special studies, and analyses as required or directed. She is also responsible for reviewing proposals on Air National Guard programs, policy, and operations matters. Additionally, she serves as the Senior Medical Officer for the 6000 + men and women of the Air National Guard Medical Service.

General Dunkelberger received a direct commission in 1983. Her military experience includes serving as Chief Nurse Executive and commanding seven consecutive years at the Squadron and Group level. Before this assignment, she served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Medical Force Development and Nursing Services for 3 years and, also, as the Air National Guard Assistant to the 59th Medical Wing, San Antonio, TX. General Dunkelberger deployed in 2000 as part of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Medical Group, Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia and was mobilized in 2001 and 2003 to support Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

EDUCATION:

• 1983 University of New Hampshire, Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Durham, New Hampshire
• 1983 Military Indoctrination of Medical Service Officers, Sheppard AFB, Texas
• 1984 Nursing Service Management Course (correspondence)
• 1987 Flight Nurse Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
• 2000 Air Command and Staff College, Pease ANGB, New Hampshire (seminar)
• 2004 Air War College, by correspondence
• 2006 Touro International University, Master of Health Science, Cypress, California
• 2011 Joint Executive Medical Skills Institute, Medical CAPSTONE Symposium, Arlington, Virginia

ASSIGNMENTS:

• October 1983 – March 1984, Nurse Internship, United States Air Force Regional Hospital, March Air Force Base, California
• March 1984 – September 1986, Staff Nurse, 28th Strategic Hospital, Ellsworth Air  Force Base, South Dakota
• September 1986 – March 1988, Clinical Nurse and Assistant Charge Nurse, 22nd Strategic Hospital, March Air Force Base, California
• March 1988 – February 1990, Assistant Charge Nurse (Obstetrics), 93rd Strategic Hospital, Castle Air Force Base, California
• February 1990 – October 1995, Individual Ready Reserve, Air Force Reserve Personnel Center, Denver, Colorado
• October 1995 – October 1998, Staff Nurse, 157th Medical Squadron, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire
• October 1998 – March 2002, Chief Nurse, 157th Medical Squadron, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire
• March 2002 – March 2009, Commander, 157th Medical Group, New Hampshire Air National Guard, Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire
• March 2009 – November 2011, Air National Guard Assistant to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
• November 2011 – May 2014, Air National Guard Assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General, Medical Force Development and Nursing Services, Washington, District of Columbia
• May 2014- May 2017, Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General, United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Meritorious Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Air Force Commendation Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Air Force Achievement Medal
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 6 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• National Defense Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Service Star)
• Global War On Terrorism Service Medal
• Nuclear Defense Service Medal
• Air Force Longevity Service Award (with 5 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
• Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with 2 M Device)
• Small Arms Expert – Pistol
• Air Force Training Ribbon
• Louisiana Emergency Service Ribbon
• New Hampshire National Guard State Active Service Ribbon
•  (1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)
• New Hampshire National Guard Service Ribbon (1 State Sea and 6 Bronze Clustersl)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS:

• National Guard Association of the United States
• National Guard Association of New Hampshire
• Aerospace Medical Association
• Aerospace Nursing Society
• Association of Air National Guard Nurses
• Society of Air Force Nurses
• American Nurses Association
• Maine Nurse’s Association
• Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society-Eta lota Chapter

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 2000 Air National Guard Nurse Corps Officer of the Year
• 2007 Marrs Award, Air National Guard Medical Group of the Year

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

• Second Lieutenant 5 August 1983
• First Lieutenant 5 August 1985
• Captain 5 August 1987
• Major 1 October 1997
• Lieutenant Colonel 30 October 2001
• Colonel 1 July 2005
• Brigadier General 3 January 2012
• Major General 30 April 2015