Colonel Mark A. Pomerinke is the 341st Medical Group Commander, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. The medical group is comprised of two squadrons, the 341st Operational Medical Readiness Squadron and the 341st Healthcare Operations Squadron. The medical group has more than 220 military, civilian and contract personnel, serving a direct-care population of approximately 10,000 and an area catchment of 14,000 beneficiaries.
Col Pomerinke was commissioned in 1999 upon graduation from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Entomology. His past assignments have included: Command Entomologist, USAFE; Instructor, USAFSAM; Director of Operational Entomology, USAF AFRL; Assistant Professor and Advisor-incharge, Department of Biology, USAFA. He deployed to Kuwait as the Deputy Commander of the first-ever Preventive Medicine Team-Air Force in support of Army Operations, and was the Chief, Range Environmental Officer for A3A, ACC. Col Pomerinke commanded the 5th Medical Support Squadron, 5th Medical Group, Minot Air Force Base. He was the Deputy Director of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board, were he developed and recommended policy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics on all matters related to pest management throughout the Department of Defense. He was the commander for the 55th Medical Support Squadron, 55th Medical Group, Offutt Air Force Base, and then prior to assuming his current position, he commanded the 61st Medical Squadron, Los Angeles Air Force Base.
EDUCATION:
1991 Bachelor of Science in Entomology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
1993 Master of Science in Entomology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
1999 Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
2001 Squadron Officer School in correspondence
2004 Air Command and Staff College in correspondence
2011 Air War College in correspondence
2012 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, Texas
2017 Medxellence Course, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. May 1999 - September 2002, Command Entomologist, Ramstein AB, Germany
2. September 2002 - October 2004, Entomology Instructor, USAFSAM, Brooks City Base, Texas (January 2004 - June 2004, Deputy Commander, 1st PMTAF, Camp Buehring, Kuwait)
3. October 2004 - Dec 2005, Director, Medical Entomology, AFRL, Brooks City Base, Texas
4. December 2005 - June 2010, Assistant Professor of Biology, USAFA, Colorado Springs, Colo.
5. June 2010 - June 2012, Chief, Range Environmental, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
6. June 2012 - June 2014, Commander, 5 Medical Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
7. June 2014 - February 2015, Chief, Operations Division, AFPMB, Silver Spring, Md.
8. February 2015 - October 2016, Deputy Director, AFPMB, Silver Spring, Md.
9. November 2016 - July 2019, Commander, 55 Medical Support Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.
10. July 2019 - June 2020, Commander, 61stMedical Squadron, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
11. June 2020 - Present, Commander, 341st Medical Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. September 2014 - May 2016, Associate Corps Chief for the Medical Entomology (43M) Career Field
2. September 2015 - October 2018, Military Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General for Entomology
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:
2000 USAFE Entomologist of the Year
2005 AFMC Entomologist of the Year
2005 Outstanding Air Force Entomologist Award
2008 Captain William F. Goodner Award - United States Air Force Academy
2009 Outstanding Academy Educator - United States Air Force Academy
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Captain 1 March 1999
Major 1 August 2005
Lieutenant Colonel 1 September 2011
Colonel 1 May 2019
(Current as of 29 June 2020)