[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S6651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MAJOR GENERAL BARBARA C. BRANNON, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 
             NURSE CORPS, ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize a great 
American and a true military heroine who has honorably served our 
country for over 30 years in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps: MG Barbara 
C. Brannon. Major General Brannon began her career as a staff nurse in 
the Intensive and Coronary Care Unit at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, 
Andrews Air Force Base, MD, and subsequently served throughout the 
world in Nebraska, California, Texas, Florida, Alabama, England, 
Wyoming, Oklahoma, Italy, and the District of Columbia.
  In each assignment, General Brannon excelled and overcame every 
challenge, accompanied by reward with greater responsibilities and 
opportunities. An expert educator and clinician, she assumed instructor 
and coordinator positions at the School of Health Care Sciences and in 
aeromedical evacuation, and served as assistant chief nurse, quality 
assurance coordinator, and director of ambulatory services at Tyndall 
AFB, FL. Serving as a nurse executive management fellow at Air 
University Regional Hospital, Maxwell AFB, AL, prepared her to lead the 
7520th Air Base Squadron Medical Aid Station in Wycombe, England. 
Another unmatched performance led to her competitive selection as the 
nursing executive management fellow for the Office of the Surgeon, 
Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE, and was followed by her 
selection as the chief nurse executive, 90th Medical Group, Francis E. 
Warren AFB, WY.
  Below-the-zone promotions to both lieutenant colonel and colonel 
illuminated her path to command the 382nd Technical Training Squadron, 
Sheppard AFB, TX, the 71st Medical Group, Vance AFB, OK and the 31st 
Medical Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy. She was later appointed as the 
director, Air Force Medical Readiness and Nursing Services, Office of 
the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, DC. Serving briefly in this capacity, 
she returned to Andrews AFB where she became the first Nurse Corps 
officer to command the 89th Medical Group, concurrently served as the 
Assistant Air Force Surgeon General for Nursing, and became the first 
Air Force nurse promoted to major general in 2003.
  Her career culminates in a dual role as Assistant Air Force Surgeon 
General, Medical Force Development and Assistant Air Force Surgeon 
General for Nursing, through which she established and appraised 
personnel policy and force development actions for over 40,000 active 
duty officer, enlisted, and civilian medical personnel. I extend my 
deepest appreciation to Major General Brannon for her 30-plus years of 
dedicated military service and offer her my congratulations on a 
phenomenal and inspirational career.

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