Paul K. Carlton, Jr.

Lieutenant General (Dr.) Paul Kendall Carlton Jr. (born May 13, 1947) was the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

General Carlton was commissioned after being honored a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1969. He is a fellow and former Air Force governor of the American College of Surgeons. He was named a consultant in general surgery to the Air Force surgeon general in 1981. He conceptualized and implemented the first Air Force rapid-response surgical team in Europe—the flying ambulance surgical trauma team. He remains an active surgeon having performed more than 4,000 operations as principal surgeon and 6,000 as first assistant. He has published extensively in medical literature.

An active flier, General Carlton holds Federal Aviation Administration commercial, instrument, multi-engine, glider and instructor ratings. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 1702nd Air Refueling Wing Contingency Hospital, completing 32 combat support missions and 140 combat flying hours in the C-21, C-130, KC-10 and KC-135. He retired from the Air Force December 1, 2002.

Education

 * 1969 Bachelor of science degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
 * 1973 Doctor of medicine, University of Colorado at Denver

Assignments

 * September 1969 - May 1973, medical student, University of Colorado, Denver
 * July 1973 - June 1978, resident, general surgery, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
 * June 1978 - April 1979, staff surgeon, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England
 * April 1979 - May 1982, Chief, General Surgery, USAF Hospital, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
 * May 1982 - August 1985, Chairman, Department of Surgery, USAF Regional Medical Center, Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany
 * August 1985 - May 1988, Commander, USAF Hospital, Torrejon Air Base, Spain
 * May 1988 - August 1991, Commander, USAF Medical Center, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois (October 1990 - March 1991, Commander, 1702nd Air Refueling Wing Contingency Hospital, Southwest Asia)
 * August 1991 - September 1994, Director, Medical Services and Training, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
 * September 1994 - May 1999, Commander, 59th Medical Wing, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
 * May 1999 - November 1999, Commander and Director, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.
 * December 1999–present, The Surgeon General of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Major awards and decoration

 * Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
 * Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
 * Airman's Medal ribbon.svg Airman's Medal
 * Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal
 * Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal
 * Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
 * National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal with service star

Effective dates of promotion

 * Second Lieutenant June 4, 1969
 * First Lieutenant December 4, 1970
 * Captain June 4, 1972
 * Major June 4, 1975
 * Lieutenant Colonel June 4, 1980
 * Colonel October 1, 1985
 * Brigadier General October 1, 1991
 * Major General May 25, 1995
 * Lieutenant General December 1, 1999