BIOGRAPHY

U N I T E D S T A T E S A I R F O R C E

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAMES A. STEPHENSON

Lt Col James A. Stephenson entered the Air Force in 1994 as a resident in clinical psychology; a requirement for graduation as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology. During his first assignment after residency, he worked with Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine personnel engaged in intelligence and fire academy training in West Texas. Here he assisted students develop positive academic and interpersonal skills which would help them adapt to the rigors of military life. Lt Col Stephenson then took on the challenge of running mental health clinic at an overseas location. Here he was able to expand his operational experience through support of personnel engaged in Operation NORTHERN WATCH. He was handpicked for an elite special operations position in which he would develop an assessment and selection program for Combat Control, Pararescue and Combat Weather personnel. In 2005, Lt Col Stephenson returned to medical operations as the Deputy Flight Commander and then Director, Base Medical Services, 421 Air Base Squadron, RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom. In this capacity, he led a diverse medical team in the delivery of base medical services to a population of 4,000 beneficiaries. In 2009, he assumed command of the 23rd Medical Support Squadron where he was responsible for Readiness, Logistics, TOPA, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Resource Management, Radiology and Medical Systems. Currently, Lt Col Stephenson serves as the Spaatz Center, Director of Human Performance and Leadership Enhancement Program.

Since 2001, Lt Col Stephenson has supported operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM. During the course of six deployments, he developed CENTCOMs hostage repatriation plan and engaged in seven repatriation operations for 21 detained US, coalition UN personnel. He has demonstrated significant leadership and support for US counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq through the selection of Afghan and Iraqi military personnel for elite counter-terrorism units and while working in 9 sensitive intelligence collection facilities.

Lt Col Stephenson was married to his wife Ann on 28 March 1992 in Greensboro, NC. They have two children, Katie (11) and William (8).


EDUCATION:

1988Bachelor of Arts, University of Portland, Portland, OR

1991 Master of Arts in Religion, Yale University, New Haven, CT

1995 Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL

1999 Squadron Officer School, correspondence

2002 Air Command and Staff College, correspondence

2009 Air War College, correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Aug 1994 - Aug 1995: Psychology Resident, 89th Medical Group, Andrews AFB, MD

2. Aug 1995 - Aug 1997: Chief, Mental Health Element, 17th Medical Group, Goodfellow AFB, TX

3. Aug 1997 - Aug 2000: Chief, Mental Health Element, 39th Medical Group, Incirlik AB, TU

4. Aug 2000 - Apr 2001: Chief, Life Skills Element, 43 Medical Group, Pope AFB, NC

5. Apr 2001 - Aug 2005: Chief, Psychological Applications, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, NC

6. Aug 2005 – June 2007: Deputy Flight Commander, Base Medical Services, 421 Air Base Squadron, RAF Menwith Hill, UK

7. July 07- July 2009: Director, Base Medical Services, 421 ABS, RAF Menwith Hill, UK.

8. Sept 2009 - June 2011: Commander, 23 Medical Support Squadron, Moody AFB, GA.

9. June 2011 – Present: Director, Human Performance and Leadership Enhancement Program, Spaatz Center, Maxwell AFB, AL

MAJOR AWARDS

2002 United States Air Force John C. Flanagan, Senior Psychologist of the Year Award

2005 Board Certification in Clinical Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology

DECORATIONS:

Bronze Star Medal

Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

National Defense Service Medal with device

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal with device

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

NATO Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Captain July 1995

Major November 2001

Lt Col August 2007

(As of: 6 February 2012)