Col. Curtis J. Shaffer is the Commander for the 186th Medical Group, Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi. He is responsible for the ocular health and vision of members of the 186th Medical Group and the 172nd Air Lift Wing and CRTC as needed. He provides wing advisement on the ocular healthcare for medical readiness of over 1,100 Airmen assigned to the 186th Air Refueling Wing.
He started his military career as a Private First Class in September 1986 with basic training in the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, SC and as an Honor Graduate Combat Medic at Fort Sam Houston, TX. He served active duty at Noble Army Medical Center, Fort McClellan, AL. He also served in Army Individual Ready Reserve after Active Duty until 1994 and was promoted to Specialist First Class while using the G.I. Bill to attend undergraduate school at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. He attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN in August 1998 and graduated in May 2002. Upon graduation he was in private solo practice in Ellisville, MS. In February 2007 Col Shaffer was commissioned as Captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve in Feb 2007 for the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron in Biloxi, MS until December 2010. He then transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard, 186 MDG in Meridian MS. He was promoted to Major in October 2012 and Lt Col in January 2017. He has served as Chief of Aerospace Optometry since 2011. He completed Air War College by distance learning in 2019. He continued to serve as Chief of Aerospace Optometry for the 186th MDG until assuming command in March 2024.
After joining the 186th Medical Group, in Meridian, MS, he also joined Hattiesburg Clinic Eye Associates in 2014 and closed his private practice. Col Shaffer continues to work as an optometrist in Hattiesburg.
Education
1982 Vocation Degree, Automotive Machinist, Jones County Junior College, Ellisville, MS
1988-98 University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS
1994-98 Jones County Junior College, Ellisville, MS
2002 Doctor of Optometry, Memphis, TN
2019 Air War College, by Distance Learning
Assignments
- May 1987 – August 1987 Noble Army Medical Center at Fort McClellan, AL
- Feb 2007 – Dec 2010 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Biloxi Air Force Base, MS
- December 2010- March 2024, Chief of Aerospace Optometry, 186th Medical Group, Key Field ANGB, Meridian, MS.
- March 2024–Present Commander, 186th Medical Group, Key Field ANGB, Meridian, MS.
Major Awards and Decorations
Meritorious Service Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Air Reserve Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Metal
Armed Forces Service Medal
AF Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
AF Longevity Service
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Air and Space Training Medal
Army Service Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Mississippi National Guard Medal of Efficiency
Mississippi War Medal
Mississippi Emergency Service Medal
Mississippi Longevity Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1987 Honor Graduate, Combat Medic Training, Fort Sam Houston, TX
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of US, Active Life Member
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Private First Class, U.S. Army Sep 1986
Specialist First Class, U.S. Army Jul 1992
Captain, USAFR Feb 2007
Major, MSANG Oct 2012
Lieutenant Colonel, MSANG Jan 2017
Colonel, MSANG May 2024
(Current as of October 2024)