Colonel JOSHUA S. CURTIS

Col Joshua S. Curtis is the Commander, 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He is responsible for four squadrons, providing a full spectrum of healthcare operations, and supporting 8,400 beneficiaries, including 1,300 Personal Reliability Program, Arming Use of Force, and Fly members. He also directly supports 700 military members and dependents within three geographically separated units. Col Curtis coordinates with Host Nation, Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency, and CONUS resources to maintain a comprehensive referral network for specialty services, providing medical care to optimize human performance in support of United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization objectives in the Southern European region. In addition, he employs population-based preventive services and key guidance to enable medical combat readiness for 4,000 active duty members.

Col Curtis was born in Mesa, Ariz. He enlisted in the Air Force as a Communications Computer Programmer (3C0X2) in 1999 and served until 2003 when he separated to pursue a career in the civilian information technology industry. In 2007, upon completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and after earning his professional certification from the American Academy of Medical Administrators, he returned to the Air Force as a Medical Service Corps officer. He has since served as a Deputy Medical Group Commander and Administrator; Medical Support Squadron Commander, twice; Deputy Division Chief, Staff Officer, and Inspector General for AFMOA; in numerous Flight Command positions; as an Executive Officer at both the group and wing levels; and as the Group Practice Manager for David Grant Medical Center’s Heart, Lung, and Vascular Center. Col Curtis attended the Air Command and Staff College in residence course at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. graduating with a Master’s Degree in Military Operational Art and Science. Col Curtis also earned his Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute, Inc. in 2017 and is specialty matched to Health Plans Management. Prior to his current position, Col Curtis was the Administrator of the 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Col Curtis first deployed in 2001 as a SrA to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation Caserma Carlo Ederle, in Vicenza, Italy. During this time, he served as a Network Control Center Operator in support of Operation JOINT GUARDIAN. Col Curtis also deployed in 2010 as a Capt to Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan, and numerous forward operating bases around the country as the International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command-East lead medical planner and mentor to the 201st Afghan National Army Corps Surgeon in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.


EDUCATION
2001 Associate Degree, Information Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Bachelor’s Degree, Computer Science, American Intercontinental University, Schaumburg, Ill. (Summa Cum Laude)
2005 Master’s Degree, Business Administration, American Intercontinental University, Schaumburg, Ill.
2008 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in residence
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence and in residence (Distinguished Graduate)
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master’s Degree, Military Operational Art and Science – Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in residence
2018 Squadron Command Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (competitively selected)
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2007 – September 2008, Medical Logistics Flight Commander, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
2. September 2008 – May 2009, Medical Logistics & IM/IT Flight Commander, Buckley AFB, Colo.
3. May 2009 – September 2010, Group Executive Officer & Resource Management Flight Commander, Buckley AFB, Colo. (September 2010 – April 2011, Healthcare Administration Mentor to 201st Afghan National Army Corps Surgeon, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan)
4. May 2011 – August 2012, Resource Management Deputy Flight Commander, Travis AFB, Calif.
5. August 2012 – April 2013, Heart, Lung, and Vascular Center Group Practice Manager, Travis AFB, Calif.
6. April 2013 – May 2014, Wing Executive Officer, Travis AFB, Calif.
7. May 2014 – July 2015, TRICARE Operations & Patient Administration Flight Commander, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. July 2015 – June 2016, Air Command and Staff College Student, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2016 – June 2019, EHR Branch Chief & IM/IT Branch Chief, AFMOA, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
10. August 2018 – June 2019, Deputy Chief, Health Benefits Division, AFMOA, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
11. June 2019 – February 2021, Medical Support Squadron Commander & SGA, 355th Medical Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
12. February 2021 – June 2021, Medical Group Deputy Commander & SGA, 355th Medical Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
13. June 2021 – July 2023, Medical Support Squadron Commander, 59th Medical Support Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
14. July 2023 – July 2024, Administrator, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
15. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 31st Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star
NATO Medal with bronze star (Kosovo & ISAF)
Excellence in Competition Rifle Badge (M-16A2)


EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant March 27, 2007
Captain March 27, 2009
Major May 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2017
Colonel Nov. 1, 2023

(Current as of August 2024)