Accomplished Chinese American

MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) VERNON CHONG   

Retired Nov. 1, 1994 

	Major General (Dr.) Vernon Chong is the command surgeon, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.   He advises the commander in chief on all medical matters and health issues that may affect the readiness of military forces in the command.  He is responsible for establishing policies for the employment of theater medical resources during crisis, contingency and humanitarian relief operations.   Also, he coordinates and integrates medical support activities and develops theater medical plans. 

	The general entered the Air Force in October 1963 following  the completion of a residency in general surgery. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in April 1964. He has commanded three Air Force medical centers, served as command surgeon of two major air commands, and was commander of the Joint Military Medical Command, San Antonio.   The general is a chief flight surgeon, and was a surgeon/flight surgeon member of the DOD launch site recovery team for 15 space launches during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs. 

	He received B.A. In Medical Sciences (1955) and D. Med. (1958) from Stanford University, and Qualification in general surgery (19630, General Hospital of Fresno County, CA.   

	His service records show that In addition to being the staff surgeon, he also served as chief in surgery (10/1963- 6/1965,), Scott AFB, IL., director, intern/resident education (6/1965- 6/1968), Tachikawa AFB, Japan, instructor in surgery (6/1968- 6/1970), Travis AFB, CA., department chairman of surgery, and director of hospital services (6/1970-6/1974), USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO., director of hospital services, and deputy commander (6/1974-8/1976), March AFB, CA., director of hospital services, and deputy commander (9/1976-10/1978), Travis AFB, CA. 

	He was the commander (10/1978-11/1981), David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA., commander (11/1981 3/1985), Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center, Andrews AFB, MD., command surgeon (3/1985-2/1987), Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott AFB, IL., commander (2/1987-5/1990), Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX., command surgeon (5/1990-8/1991), Hq. Air Training Command, and commander, Joint Military Medical Command, Randolph AFB, TX., and command surgeon (8/1991- ), Hq. U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

	Major General has received following major awards and decorations: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Order of Merit-Brazil and Gold Cross of Honor-Germany.  His other achievements include Order of the Sword - bestowed by enlisted personnel of Air Training Command, Clinical professor of surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio, and Ira C. Eaker fellow - Air Force Association, Aerospace.   

	He is on Board of Governors, American College of Surgeons; Board of Regents, National Library of Medicine; Board of Regents, adviser, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Board of Trustees, Air Force Village Foundation;  Board of Directors, Alamo Chapter, American Red Cross, San Antonio, TX. 

	He has been steadily promoted through the ranks as follows:  Captain Oct 14, 1963,  Major Dec 15, 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Aug 8, 1968, Colonel Jun 15, 1973, Brigadier General Oct 1, 1982, Major General Apr 15, 1987 (Current as of May 1994)