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| Library > Biographies > COLONEL BARBARA A. PERSONS |
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COLONEL BARBARA A. PERSONS
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Colonel Barbara A. Persons is the commander of the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS), Air Force Reserve Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. She commands the only Reserve medical unit in Mississippi, serving a wing of more than 1,600 reservists. As commander, she is responsible for the training programs that ensure maximum wartime readiness and combat capability of the ASTS as well as providing medical programs that support the 403rd Wing.
Colonel Persons was born in Cherbourg, France, where her parents were stationed with the U.S. Army. After her father's separation from active duty, her family returned to Ohio. Persons earned an associate degree in nursing from Miami University in 1976, followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio. In 1993 she was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was assigned to the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In 1996 Colonel Persons was awarded a master's degree in nursing from The Ohio State University. She received her certification as a nurse practitioner and is currently employed with the 6th Medical Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.
As a member of the 445 ASTS, Colonel Persons served as a flight commander and Assistant Chief Nurse. She is the only remaining charter member of the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) Working Group established in 2003-4 during her deployment to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. She is one of the authors of the Aeromedical Staging Facility Manual which has been used at CASF training since 2004. She participated in the rewrite of Air Force Instruction 44-165, developed multiple CONUS and OCONUS exercises including Pacific Nightingale in 1996,1998, and in 2000 in the People's Republic of South Korea and Co-Operation Key 2003 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Colonel Persons was Chief Nurse at both the 94 ASTS, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., and at the 932 ASTS, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Prior to her current assignment, she was an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Commander at the 42d Medical Group, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. She deployed as commander of the 451st Contingency Aeromedical Staging Squadron (CASF) at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, from January 2011 through July 2011. In addition to being commander, Colonel Persons was the US/British Aeromedical Evacuation Liaison Officer and facilitated the working relations between the coalition forces, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army.
Colonel Persons and her husband Jeff are the parents of two daughters, Aimee and Molly. Both daughters are advance practice nurses and the mothers of their four grandsons, Ben, Thomas, Nicholas and Bram and one granddaughter, Maddie.
EDUCATION:
1976 - Associate Degree in Nursing - Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
1990 - Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio
1996 - Master of Science Degree in Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
1996 - National Certification in Women's Health - Nurse Practitioner
1998 - Squadron Officer School (in-residence)
2003 - Air Command and Staff College (correspondence)
2008 - Air War College (correspondence)
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. November 1993 to December 2004 - 445 ASTS, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2. October 2003 to January 2004 - 86th CASF - Ramstein, Germany
3. December 2004 to September 2006 - IMA, 6 MDG, MacDill AFB, Fla.
4. September 2006 to December 2007 - Chief Nurse, 94 ASTS, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
5. December 2007 to March 2009 - Chief Nurse, 932 ASTS, Scott AFB, Ill.
6. March 2009 to August 2011 - IMA, 42 MG, Maxwell AFB, Ga.
7. December 2010 to July 2011 - Commander, 451st CASF, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
8. September 2011 to Present - Commander, 403 ASTS, Keesler AFB, MIss.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
1. Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
2. Air Force Commendation Medal
3. Air Force Achievement Medal
4. Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
5. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
6. National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
7. Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters
8. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
9. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
10. Armed Forces Reserve Medal - "M" with two devices
11. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Award (NATO)
12. Air Force Overseas Ribbon (short tour)
13. Afghanistan Campaign Medal
14. Air Force Training Ribbon
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS:
1. Member of Association of Military Surgeons (AMSUS)
2. Life Member of the Reserve Officer Association
3. Member of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses
4. Member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
1. Captain - 27 Sept 1993
2. Major - 27 Sept 2000
3. Lieutenant Colonel - 19 Oct 2004
4. Colonel - 16 February 2012
(Current as of March 2013)
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