Who is
Garry Stanberry?
Author of The No-Nonsense Manager’s Playbook
Colonel Stanberry makes remarks at his Change of Command Ceremony in which he accepts command of the 49th Medical Group, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Biography of Garry Stanberry
Garry Stanberry was a successful manager for over 45 years. During his 29 years as an Air Force officer, he served as a hospital commander, a joint task force deputy commander (forward), a regional hospital senior administrator, and director of the Medical Service Corps.
Stanberry standing in front of a stealth fighter at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
Education & Professional Development
Earned a Baccalaureate in Business Management, majoring in Management with a minor in Economics, and a Master’s in Public Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Completed advanced professional military education, including Air Force Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College (now Joint Forces Staff College), and Air War College.
Holds the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)
Accomplishments
Air Force Hospital Commander
Garry inherited an Air Force hospital that had just received the second-lowest score by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in AF history. With Garry’s leadership, the JCAHO awarded full accreditation in only eight months, and the senior inspector said this was “the most remarkable turnaround of a hospital I have seen in 15 years…”
He was only the 4th Medical Service Corps (MSC) officer to serve as a hospital commander in AF history.
Deputy Commander (Forward), Joint Task Force PROVIDE PROMISE
Part of a United Nations humanitarian relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars. This theater of operations was designated a hostile fire zone.
Led a staff of 700, including 350 soldiers in a U.S. Army Reinforced Infantry Company
He was the only MSC in Air Force history to serve as a joint task force deputy commander.
Associate Director, Peace Corps
His office was voted the best at Peace Corps six years in a row.
Joint Task Force liaison for the Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG) during Operation DESERT STORM
Commanded a 24-hour command center monitoring all AF medical activities in the Middle East.
Twelve officers on his staff were senior to him in rank, but the AF/SG insisted he continue to lead this team.
His staff created an operations plan that coordinated the call-up of over 12,500 medical personnel from the Guard, Reserve, and retirees. This was the largest call-up since the Korean War.
Officer of the Year, Thule Air Base, Greenland
On his first officer evaluation, Major General Leavitt wrote, “Lieutenant Stanberry possesses exceptional maturity and ability – far more than his peer group. Of all the lieutenants on this large airbase, Stanberry has the greatest potential to offer the Air Force. His career should be carefully monitored, and his future assignments selected with an eye towards rapid promotion and increased responsibility.”
Awards
Twice the recipient of The Peace Corps Director’s Distinguished Service Award (individual category) for exemplary service...one of only three given each year to a staff of over 3,000. Two DDSAs to the same person have only been awarded two times in Peace Corps history.
A partial list of his Air Force decorations includes the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (six oak leaf clusters).
Awarded the Air Force Medical Service Corps Commitment to Excellence Award. Stanberry was the only recipient of this annual award in a field of 1,250 officers.