Col Valerie OBrien is the Commander, 8th Medical Group, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. She leads 158 personnel across two diverse squadrons which support 2,800 assigned active duty personnel within 19 units. She executes a $3.5 million budget and oversees a $29 million/13-building infrastructure, 57 War Reserve Materiel assemblages and 8 Home Station Medical Response projects while delivering 13 product lines including a 24-hour ambulance response capability.
Prior to her current assignment, Col OBrien has served in diverse leadership roles including two prior Squadron commands, Chief of the Medical Staff, and Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Col OBrien commissioned into the Air Force in 1999. She initially served one year as a communications officer prior to attending Medical School in Bethesda, Maryland. She completed residency in Family Medicine at Andrews AFB and has had the pleasure of serving in diverse assignments since that time. She is married to Mr. Dane OBrien, and they have two adult daughters and two grandsons.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science degree, Biology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
2005 MD, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
2008 Family Medicine Residency, Andrews AFB, MD
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence
2012 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, TX
2017 Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
2021 Air War College, Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Nov 1999 - Aug 2000, Network Engineering Officer, Hickam AFB, HI
2. Aug 2000 - May 2005, Medical Student, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD
3. Jul 2005 - Jun 2007, Family Medicine Resident, Andrews AFB, MD
4. Jul 2007 - Jun 2008, Chief Resident, Family Medicine Residency, Andrews AFB, MD
5. Aug 2008 - Aug 2009, Family Physician, 8 Medical Group, Kunsan AB, Korea
6. Aug 2009 - Jun 2013, Family Physician and FHI team lead, Randolph AFB, TX
7. Jun 2013 - Jun 2014, Chief of the Medical Staff, 8 Medical Group, Kunsan AB, Korea
8. Jun 2014 - Jun 2017, Chief of Medical Retention Standards Branch, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, TX
9. Jun 2017- Jun 2020, Commander, 354 Medical Operations Squadron, Eielson AFB, AK
10. Jun 2020- Jun 2022, Commander, 19 HealthCare Operations, Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR
11. Jun 2022- Present, Commander, 48th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Korean Defense Service Medal