60 MDG welcomes new "Top Doc" to DGMC

  • Published
  • By Jim Spellman
  • 60th Medical Group Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the time-honored phrases "Sir, I relinquish command" and "Sir, I accept command," a new chapter in 66 years of military medical history were written during a change-of-command ceremony held Aug. 7 at David Grant USAF Medical Center. 

Dr. (Col.) Brian P. Hayes accepted the ceremonial guidon from Col. James C. Vechery, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, thereby becoming the 35th medical commander here. Colonel Hayes follows a distinguished lineage dating back to Dr. (Lt. Col.) Archibald Laird, the first commander of the original 4167th Hospital Station at Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base in July 1943. 

The outgoing 60th MDG commander, Dr. (Col.) Lee E. Payne, leaves DGMC after a three-year tenure to become command surgeon for U.S. Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Colonel Hayes graduated from the University of Miami with a biology degree and received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Colonel Hayes attended the University of Miami School of Medicine on the Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program, receiving his medical degree in 1990. 

Following graduation, Colonel Hayes entered active duty and completed a general surgery internship at DGMC where he also met and married his wife, a former pediatrics nurse and Air Force officer who was also assigned to DGMC. 

For the next nine years, Colonel Hayes served in various flight surgeon leadership positions. He was the officer-in-charge of Flight Medicine at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., the officer-in-charge of Physical Exams and Standards at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the first flight surgeon selected to command the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Training Flight, 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. 

In 2001, Colonel Hayes earned a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University. He completed residencies in Aerospace Medicine and General Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. He is board certified in both specialties by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. 

Colonel Hayes served as the 92nd Aeromedical-Dental Squadron commander at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. In this capacity, he developed leaders to provide comprehensive health promotion, preventive services, and medical care to 24,000 beneficiaries of the 92 ARW and Northwest region. In 2005, Colonel Hayes attended Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree. In 2006, Colonel Hayes served as commander of the 90th Medical Group and director of base medical services at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. 

Colonel Hayes is a chief flight surgeon with 1,200 hours in a variety of aircraft. 

"I love David Grant and I love the U.S. Air Force; they brought us together," said Colonel Hayes in his remarks to the audience. "I have the most phenominal wife, the most phenominal friends and family, and you all, my new family here at David Grant Medical Center." 

He paid special tribute to his nephew, Army Sgt. Joshua Cope, who suffered wounds while serving in Iraq as a mortarman three years ago. Colonel Hayes pointed out his nephew survived as one of 75 double amputees at the time "because of the phenominal military health care system that we have in place." 

"And even more so, he was brought home by the best aeromedical evacuation system this planet has ever seen," said Colonel Hayes. "So when we talk about a passion for what I do, I've got it; I've had it every day. This Air Force has saved people in my family and you're going to feel it when I lead," Colonel Hayes said.