Col. John Cotton currently serves as the Commander,
35th Medical Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan. He ensures maximum wartime readiness by operating a community-based healthcare system maintaining the health, welfare and morale for over 7,000 beneficiaries through accessible, high quality healthcare. Col. Cotton commands and develops a group of 4 squadron commanders and 400 personnel in support of a 23-bedhospital.
Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Cotton was the Air Force Surgeon General's Aerospace Medicine Consultant, where he oversaw Air Force Flight and Operational Medicine Program execution, advising Senior Air Force Medical Service leadership on Operational Medicine issues, including concepts of operation, recruiting, accession, and manning, as well as mentoring over 450 flight surgeons Air Force-wide.
Col. Cotton has served as the Command Surgeon for US Strategic Command and has twice been a Squadron Commander, where he was dual-hatted as the Chief of Aerospace Medicine and Deputy Medical Group Commander.
Col. Cotton has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as Director of Primary Care. He has also deployed as a squadron medical element flight surgeon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as Lead Flight Surgeon for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. He has also performed global health engagements in Romania, Vietnam, and Australia.
EDUCATION
1991 Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
1996 Doctorate of Medicine Degree, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
1999 Residency in Family Medicine, St. Joseph's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, Resident of the Year
1999 Commissioned Officer Training Course, Gunter Annex, Alabama, Distinguished Graduate
2000 Combat Casualty Care Course, Camp Bullis, Texas
2005 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, Distinguished Graduate
2010 Master’s degree in Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus, Texas
2011 Residency in Aerospace Medicine, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks City- Base, Texas
2018 132nd Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders Course, Bethesda, Maryland
2020 Air War College (correspondence), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2022 Military Health Service Capstone, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1.September 1999 - August 2002, Staff Family Physician, 314th Medical Operations Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
2.August 2002 - August 2003, Staff Emergency Physician, 52nd Medical Operations Squadron, Spangdahlem AB,Germany
3.August 2003 - July 2005, Flight Commander, Emergency Services, 52nd Medical Operations Squadron,Spangdahlem AB, Germany
4.September 2005 - June 2009, Flight Surgeon, 22nd Fighter Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
5.June 2009 - June 2010, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, Phase I, University of Texas - Houston School of PublicHealth, San Antonio Regional Campus, Texas
6.July 2010 - June 2011, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, Phase II, United States Air Force School of AerospaceMedicine, Brooks City-Base, Texas
7.July 2011 - June 2014, Commander, 35th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 35th Medical Group’s Chief of AerospaceMedicine, Misawa AB, Japan
8.June 2014 - June 2017, Commander, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 18th Medical Group Deputy Commander,Kadena AB, Japan
9.July 2017 - August 2020, Command Surgeon, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
10.August 2020 - June 2022, Air Force Aerospace Medicine Consultant, Air Force Medical Readiness Agency,Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
11.June 2022 - present, Commander, 35th Medical Group, Misawa AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters Aerial Achievement Medal Air Force Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and three oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal Antarctica Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and oak leaf cluster
OTHER AWARDS
American Hospital Association Federal Healthcare Excellence Award, 2017
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Chief Flight Surgeon Flight hours: 344 hours, 36 combat hours Aircraft flown: F-16CJ, C-130, KC-135, HH-60, T-6, C-17, C-12, P-3, T-38, C-32, C-40
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine (1999 - present) American Board of Preventive Medicine (2011 - present) Federal Healthcare Executives Institute Alumni Association (2018 - present) Aerospace Medical Association (2021 - present) Society of United States Air Force Flight Surgeons (2021 - present) American Academy of Physician Leaders (2022 - present)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain Nov. 17, 1995
Major Nov. 17, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 17, 2007
Colonel Nov. 17, 2013
(Current as of July 2022)