14th Medical Group receives new commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Col. Billye Hutchison assumed command of the 14th Medical group on Tuesday in a ceremony at the Columbus Club.

Colonel Hutchison was previously the Chief, Medical Force Development and Formal Training Division, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB, Texas, where she guided over 150 formal training programs for over 40,000 medical personnel attending initial technical training or retraining. She was also responsible for the development of over 1,200 nurses in AETC as a senior member of the Air force Nurse Corps Board of Directors and Development Team.

After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, she obtained a direct commission in 1986. She later received a Master of Science degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.

Colonel Hutchison entered active duty in June of 1986 and has since served in various clinical and administrative nursing assignments in military treatment facilities. She is a native of Arkansas and she and her husband, Richard, have a daughter, Brandi, son-in-law, Brad and two grandchildren Kristen and Colin.

She has previously commanded at the squadron level, and has been assigned as the deputy commander and chief nurse at multiple locations.

Though she has only been at Columbus Air Force Base for a short time, the new medical group commander said she is looking forward to working with the BLAZE team.

"I'm personally amazed at this base. It's one of those ones you don't hear about very much, but it's a great place with a great community and it's an honor to be here," she said.