Colonel (Dr) James Choi is Commander and MTF Director, 35th Medical Group, Misawa Air Base Japan. The 4 squadron, 440-person unit is responsible for a 23-bed hospital facility providing home station primary care, flight medicine, urgent care, specialty care, and inpatient services in support of 11,000 military personnel and dependents from the Fighter Wing, eight associate units, and the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The group is accountable for a $47 million annual budget to maintain around-the-clock operations and wartime readiness. Prior to this assignment, he served as Commander, 99th Surgical Operations Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Colonel Choi was commissioned as a graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Duke University. He served as a line officer in engineering and program management positions prior to matriculation to medical school and has acquisition certifications in program management, systems engineering, and test and evaluation. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery, serving as an administrative chief resident in his final year. Following residency, he completed a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine. He has been trained as a team physician at the professional sports, Division I intercollegiate, and high school levels. Additionally, he has extensive experience with Air Force integrated operational support in operations, maintenance, and Special Warfare units. Academically, he holds a faculty appointment as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a Certified Physician Executive.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2004 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2009 Doctor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
2014 Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Boston, Massachusetts
2015 Fellow in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
2017 Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence)
2021 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
2021 Certified Physician Executive, American Association for Physician Leadership, Tampa, Florida
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – June 2001, Executive Officer, 29th Intelligence Squadron, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
2. June 2001 – June 2002, Program Engineer, Special Deployments Division, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
3. June 2002 – June 2003, Deputy Chief, Information Technology Program Management Office, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
4. June 2003 – July 2005, Lead Advanced Projects Engineer, Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
5. August 2005 – May 2009, Medical Student, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
6. June 2009 – July 2014, Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Boston, Massachusetts
7. August 2014 – July 2015, Fellow in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
8. August 2015 – September 2018, Staff Orthopaedic Surgeon, then Orthopaedics and Orthotics Flight Commander, 60th Surgical Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California
9. September 2018 – July 2020, Chief of Surgery, 355th Medical Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
10. July 2020 – July 2021, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
11. July 2021 – June 2024, Director of Human Performance, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
12. June 2023 – July 2023, Interim Commander, 99th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
13. June 2024 – May 2026, Commander, 99th Surgical Operations Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
14. October 2024 – April 2025, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Medical Squadron, Southwest Asia
15. June 2026 – present, Commander and MTF Director, 35th Medical Group, Misawa Air Base, Japan
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Flight Surgeon
Aircraft Flown: F-16D, RC-26B, B-52H, UC-35D, KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Aerospace Medical Association
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Association for Physician Leadership
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Arthroscopy Association of North America
Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
Association of Old Crows
Massachusetts Medical Society
Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Colonel August 1, 2023
(Current as of Jun 2026)