Col. Jody L. Cowan is the Commander, 349th Medical Group, Travis Air Force Base, California. He serves as the senior medical advisor to the wing commander on medical force strategies, policies, and practices. The 349th MDG consists of the 349th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 349th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, and 349th Medical Squadron.
The group delivers combatant commanders sustained combat power and improved agility by delivering life-saving care and mission-ready forces.
Col. Cowan received his commission in the United States Air Force as a Medical Service Corps officer in 2004 and served on active duty in diverse administrative and clinical operations roles. He joined the Air Force Reserves in 2010 serving as an Aeromedical Evacuations Operations Officer and deployed as Director of Operations delivering intra- and inter-theater aeromedical evacuation. Col. Cowan then served as a Joint Medical Planner responsible for contingency and crisis action planning for combatant commands and joint task forces.
Prior to his current position, Col. Cowan has directly supported all geographical combatant commands by delivering mission-ready forces and capabilities as a deployed and in-garrison Squadron Commander. He also ensured evacuation and medical care for patients and refugees across numerous named operations including Operations FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, INHERENT RESOLVE, and ALLIES REFUGE.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Arts, German, University of Georgia
2001 Master of Science, Management, North Carolina State University
2004 Health Services Administration School, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL., by correspondence
2014 Joint Enabling Capabilities Planners Course, Norfolk Naval Station, Va.
2015 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, Norfolk Naval Station, Va.
2015 Air Advisor Academic Course, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2015 Joint Medical Planners Course, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
2016 NATO Joint Medical Planner Course, Oberammergau, Germany
2017 Joint and Combined Warfighting School - Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Va.
2017 Defense Support of Civilian Authorities Course, San Antonio, Texas
2017 UK Joint Medical Operational Planners Course, DMS Whittington, United Kingdom
2018 Joint Logistics Course, Fort Lee, Va.
2018 Joint Operational Contracting Support Planning and Execution Course, Tysons, Va.
2018 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2023 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004 - December 2004, Group Practice Manager, 47th Medical Operations Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. January 2005 - May 2005, Chief of Referral Management, 47th Medical Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. June 2005 – July 2007, Tricare Operations and Patient Administration Flight Commander, 47th Medical Support Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. August 2007 – November 2010, Individual Ready Reserve
5. December 2010 – April 2014, Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Officer, 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C. (September 2013 – January 2014, Director of Operations, 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar)
7. February 2019 – November 2022, Commander, 94th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Dobbins ARB, Ga. (January 2022 – June 2022, Commander, 405th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait)
8. August 2022 – September 2023, student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. September 2023 – present, Commander, 349th Medical Group, Travis AFB, Calif.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 2014 – February 2019, Joint Medical Planner, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Norfolk, Va. (June 2016, SOUTHCOM, Miami, Fl.; July 2016 – August 2016, AFRICOM and EUCOM, Stuttgart, Germany; May 2017, SOUTHCOM, Miami, Fl.; September 2017, ARNORTH, San Antonio, Texas; May 2018, TRANSCOM, Scott AFB, IL; September 2018, ARNORTH, San Antonio, Texas).
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with bronze star
(Current as of October 2023)