Brig. Gen. James H. Dienst is the Commander, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The 711th HPW advances human performance and integration for air, space and cyberspace through research, education, consultation and operational support. The wing operates at seven geographically separated sites and includes the Airman Systems Directorate, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and the Human Performance Integration Directorate. The general oversees more than 2,000 personnel and an annual $300 million budget. He also provides strategic direction for Air Force biotechnology, public health training and aeromedical consultation.
Brig. Gen. Dienst also serves as the Chief, Biomedical Sciences Corps, U.S. Air Force, overseeing the professional force development and world-wide utilization for more than 2,400 officers in 17 healthcare specialties supporting 76 military treatment facilities and various headquarters and major command organizations.
Brig. Gen. Dienst was commissioned into the Biomedical Sciences Corps in 1995 and has served in a broad range of assignments within base, major command, Headquarters Air Force and Department of Defense levels. In addition, he has served as a commander at the squadron and group levels, attended Air War College in-residence within the U.S. Air Force Center for Strategy and Technology Blue Horizon’s Program and served as a DoD Joint Task Force and Headquarters Air Force medical operations division chief. Prior to this assignment, the general served as the Commander, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor’s degree, Biology, Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan.
1989 Doctor of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
1999 Residency in Hospital-based Optometry, Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia
2001 Air Command and Staff, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2009 Air War College, Masters of Strategic Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Military Health System Capstone, Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va.
2015 U.S. Military Strategic Leadership Program, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
2017 Air Force Senior Officer Security Seminar, Dahlgren, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1995 – August 1996, U.S. Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee Staff Optometrist, 22nd Medical Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
2. March 1996 – July 1998, Deputy Chief, Optometry Services, 12th Medical Group, Randolph AFB, Texas
3. July 1998 – July 1999, Resident in hospital-based optometry, Wilford Hall Medical Center and Pennsylvania State University College of Optometry, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas
4. July 1999 – July 2002, Chief, Optometry Services Flight and Air Force Special Operations Command Vision Consultant, Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
5. July 2002 – July 2003, Fellow, Medical Readiness Plans and Operations, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas
6. July 2003 – June 2004, Chief, Readiness Plans and Operations, Headquarters AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
7. July 2004 – July 2005, Chief, Expeditionary Medical Operations Policy, Headquarters Air Force Surgeon General-Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2005 – June 2006, Chief, Current Medical Operations Division, Headquarters Air Force Surgeon General - the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2006 – July 2008, Commander, 43rd Medical Operations Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
10. July 2007 – July 2008, Deputy Commander, 43rd Medical Group, Pope AFB, N.C.
11. July 2008 – June 2009, Student, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. July 2009 – July 2010, Chief, J3 Operations, Readiness, Training, Exercise, and Civil-Military Division, Headquarters Joint Task Force National Capital Region-Medical, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2010 – July 2011, Director, Biomedical Sciences Corps Operations, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas
14. July 2011 – July 2014, Commander, 78th MDG, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. July 2014 – May 2016, Command Surgeon, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
16. May 2016 – May 2018, Director, J7 (Education and Training), Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va.,
17. May 2018 – June 2019, Commander, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
18. August 2016 – present, Chief, Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
19. June 2019 – present, Commander, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2009 – July 2010, Chief, J3 Operations, Readiness, Training, Exercises, and Civil-Military Division, Headquarters Joint Task Force National Capital Region-Medical, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
2. May 2016 – May 2018, Director, J7 (Education and Training), Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va., as a colonel and brigadier general
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Recognition (2001 Air Force Optometrist of the Year)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American Academy of Optometry
Armed Forces Optometry Society
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE
Texas State Therapeutic Optometry License
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant May 18, 1995
Captain March 14, 1996
Major April 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 2005
Colonel Jan. 1, 2011
Brigadier General Oct. 2, 2016
(Current as of July 2019)