Col. Stephanie A. Forsythe is the commander of the 28th Medical Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. She commands more than 240 active-duty military and civilian members and is responsible for ensuring maximum wartime readiness by operating a community-based healthcare system maintaining the health and morale of Air Force members through accessible, quality medical and dental care for 16,000 beneficiaries.
Col. Forsythe entered the United States Air Force in April 2003 with a direct commission after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
During her 21 years of service, she has served as a flight commander three times, a squadron commander two times, and has deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to her current position, Col. Forsythe served as the commander of the 81st Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
EDUCATION
2003 Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.
2003 Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2004 Biomedical Officer Management Orientation, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), Texas
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Medical Incident Investigation Workshop Course, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2023 Capstone Course for Military Health System Leaders, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2003 – February 2004, Chief, Pharmacy Services, 20th Medical Support Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
2. February 2004 – July 2006, Chief, Pharmacy Administration, 20th MDSS, Shaw AFB, S.C.
3. July 2006 – July 2007, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight Commander, 8th MDSS, Kunsan Air Base, Korea
4. August 2007– February 2011, Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services, 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.; (July 2010 – January 2011, Chief, Pharmacy Services, 379th Medical Group, Al Udeid, Qatar)
5. February 2011 – September 2013, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight Commander, 9th MDSS, Beale AFB, Calif.
6. September 2013 – October 2015, Biomedical Science Corps Assignment Officer, HQ Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, Texas
7. October 2015 – May 2016, Chief, BSC Utilization Section, HQ AFPC, JBSA–Randolph, Texas
8. May 2016 – May 2019, Diagnostic & Therapeutic Flight Commander, 21st MDSS, Peterson AFB, Colo.
9. May 2019 – June 2021, Commander, 509th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. June 2021 – June 2022, 509th Bomb Wing Director of Staff, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
11. June 2022 – June 2023, BLAST Course Director, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. June 2023 – July 2024, Commander, 81st Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.
13. July 2024 – Present, Commander, 28th Medical Group, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with seven oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 Field Grade Officer of the Year, 9th Medical Group, Beale AFB, Calif.
2014 Assignments & AEF Operations Directorate Lance P. Sijan Award, HQ AFPC, JBSA–Randolph, Texas
2018 Air Force Space Command Biomedical Sciences Corps Team of the Year, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2019 Air Force Best Clinic of the Year, 509th Medical Group, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain May 31, 2003
Major Feb. 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2015
Colonel July 1, 2023
(Current as of July 2024)