60th MDTS chief to retire after 30 years

  • Published
  • 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutic Squadron
Travis Air Force Base, Calif. --  The superintendent of the 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron will retire after 30 years of distinguished service, ending his Air Force medical career where he first started it. 

Chief Master Sgt. Rocky Crawford advises the commander on operational issues for more than 230 enlisted members assigned to the laboratory, diagnostic imaging, pharmacy and nutritional medicine flights, providing advance enlisted leadership for staff and delivering diagnostic health care services to 88,000 beneficiaries of the 60th Medical Group and Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs Joint Venture. 

Born in Fort Meyers, Fla., Chief Crawford entered the Air Force under the delayed enlistment program on Dec. 31, 1975 and completed basic military training school at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, June 23, 1976. 

Following BMTS, Chief Crawford was assigned to the School of Health Care Sciences, Sheppard AFB, Texas, where he completed a 17-week medical laboratory specialist Phase I training course. 

After completing a 36-week Phase II course at the USAF Regional Hospital, Shaw AFB, S.C., Chief Crawford began his career as a medical laboratory specialist, performing urinalysis, hematology, coagulation and blood collection procedures at the “old” David Grant USAF Medical Center that was originally known as “the Hospital on the Hill” at Travis in October 1977. 

Chief Crawford transferred to Castle AFB, Calif., in October 1980 as noncommissioned officer of the chemistry section before being reassigned in November 1983 to Wiesbaden Regional Medical Center in Germany. Succeeding tours of duty took Chief Crawford to Iraklion Air Station, Crete, Charleston AFB, S.C., Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nellis AFB, Nev., and ultimately back to Travis and the “new” DGMC in June 2004. 

Chief Crawford is a graduate of the senior NCO Academy, a distinguished graduate of the NCO Academy and graduate of NCO Leadership School. 

His significant accomplishments include selection as the 437th Medical Group senior NCO of the Year in 1991, 99th Medical Support Squadron senior NCO of the year for 2000 and 2002 as well as Lance P. Sijan award winner for 2000. Chief Crawford completed his Community College of the Air Force degree in Medical laboratory technology in December 1995. 

Some of the chief’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two clusters and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with eight clusters. 

Chief Crawford is married to the former Lisa Dianne Sorrel from Newark, Ohio, and has four children. 

His retirement ceremony is Thursday at 3 p.m. in the DGMC auditorium. 

Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, assistant surgeon general, Medical Force Development and Assistant Surgeon General of Nursing Services, will preside over the ceremony. Dress will be uniform of the day for servicemembers and business casual for civilian guests.