Colonel Nicole D. Garris is the commander, 66th Medical Squadron, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. She leads 167 personnel with an operating budget of $7.9 million in providing health care and medical support services to 125,000 TRICARE beneficiaries. She is responsible for all medical services provided to the installation and more than 220 geographically separated units across a seven-state region. She oversees Primary Care, Aerospace and Operational Medicine, Dental, Mental Health, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, Medical Logistics and Readiness, TRICARE, Resource Management, and Information Systems operations.
Colonel Garris entered the Air Force in 1987. She commissioned into the Biomedical Sciences Corps in 2001 and completed her Social Work Residency at Malcom Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base. After completing her residency, she has held several positions to include Family Advocacy Officer, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program Manager, Chief of Behavioral Health Optimization and director of the largest Air Force social work residency program, before being selected for a prestigious Department of the Air Force Headquarters Surgeon General Office position. There, she served as Education and Training Program Element Monitor, Force Development Panel, Office of the Surgeon General. Colonel Garris also held the position of Deputy Director, Program Operations, TRICARE Regional Office North, Rosslyn Virginia, guiding the largest TRICARE North division responsible for the oversight of the $2.8 billion managed care support health contract, and served as chief of the Congressional Branch. She has deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve, and held the distinct position of sole mental health clinician at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Colonel Garris is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers and holds Board Certified Diplomate status in clinical practice.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts (Social Psychology), Park University, Parkville, Mo.
2001 Master of Arts (Social Work), Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Planning, Programming, Budget and Execution Course, National Capital Region
2011 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala, by correspondence
2016 Air Force Medical Home Executive Leadership Seminar, Nellis AFB, Nevada
2021 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
August 2001 – June 2002, Resident, Social Work Residency Program, Malcom Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
June 2002 – October 2003, Program Manager Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
October 2003 – November 2004, Chief, Family Advocacy Element, 2nd Medical Operations Sqaudron, Barksdale AFB, La.
November 2004 – June 2005, Chief, Behavioral Health Optimization, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
June 2005 – November 2006, Chief, Family Advocacy Element, 79th Medical Operations Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md. (*April – September 2006, OIC, Life Skills Support Center, 380th Expeditionary Medical Group, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates)
November 2006 – October 2008, Deputy Director, Social Work Residency/Chief Family Advocacy Element, 79th Medical Operations Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
October 2008 – June 2009, Director, Social Work Residency Program/Chief Family Advocacy, 779th Medical Operations Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Md.