Colonel, USAF, MSC (Ret)

Larry R. Burchfield

Colonel, USAF, MSC (Ret)

A Trail Blazer

Larry Burchfield was born on May 27th, 1943 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born into an Air Force family. His father, also a trailblazer, was one of the first Chief Master Sergeants in the United States Air Force, as he was promoted on the first Air Force Promotion list to Chief. His father was in Strategic Air Command his entire career as a result did not move around very much. Larry while growing up spent 13 years at Carswell AFB, Texas, after which his father was transferred to Blytheville AFB, Arkansas and stayed there four years. Larry graduated from high school in Blytheville and began college at Arkansas State University.

Larry eventually transferred to Texas A & M University where he participated in AFROTC and was commissioned a 2ndLieutenant in the United States Air Force Medical Service Corps (MSC).Larry'sentrance into the MSC was by luck. All AFROTC cadets before commissioning must list three career fieldstheywished to enter upon graduation. One of his classmates told him that he had, had an uncle who was an MSC and he reallylike it. So, Larry a business major, selected the MSC as one of his choices.

Larry’s first assignment was Maxwell AFB, Alabama, as Chief of Administration. While at Maxwell he met his future wife,Sandy. The hospital commander at the time was Colonel Edgar H. Underwood, USAF, MC. Colonel Underwood was selected for promotion to Brigadier General (B/Gen,) and wastransferredto Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC) as Commander. B/Gen. Underwoodasked Larry to go with him and be his Aide-de-Camp. The Air Force at this time did not allow MSC’s to be Aide-de-camps but with the Corps Chief approval, Larrybecame the first MSC to be an Aide-de-Camp to a medical general. Others followed in his footsteps, most notably Ned Degroot, Chris Wren, and Biff Hatten. After this two yearsassignment, Larrywas asked if he wanted to take an assignment either to Europe or the Air Force Institute of Technology(AFIT) for a graduate degree. He chose AFIT and graduate school and attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Upon graduation, Larry was informed that Colonel Paul W. Myers, USAF, MC had requested that Larryaccompany him to CamRanhBay Air Base, Vietnam as the administrator. (Colonel Paul W. Myers was going to be commander).Colonel Myers was selected for B/Gen.andbefore either could be PCD’d to Vietnam,General Myers was assigned to WHMC as the commander. The General requested that Larrybe allowed to follow him to WHMC. Larry spent a year in Physician Education. As Larry had never had an overseas tour, he received orders to Ramey Air Base, Puerto Rico as the administrator. Upon arrival, he was informed that Ramey had just been identified for closure. Larry spent a year at Ramey and closed the hospital.

He was then PCS’d back to Wilford Hall Medical Center. Larry spent a year as the administrator of the Department of Surgery. At the end of a year in the Department of Surgery, he was pulled over to the Air Force Military Personnel Center(MPC) as Chief of Physician Education. Larry remained in this very challenging position for four years.

B/Gen. Richard D. (Hap) Hansen, USAF, MCwas the MPC surgeon and one day called Larry into his office and told him B/Gen. Joseph E. Wesp; the ATC Surgeon wanted Larry to go to Vance AFB, Oklahoma to be the Clinic Commander. Larry jumped at the chance. Larry wanted to wait a few weeks to pin on Major which happened on the 1st of May and he assumed command on the 21st of May.

When he assumed command, the USAF Clinic Vance was rated the worst facility in ATC. A few days after his arrival the Wing Commander called him in and asked him to listen to a UPT graduating class feedback session. The feedback was stinging but was valid and highlighted the need for the clinic to reestablish credibility in the wing. Captain Ken Ansel was the clinic administrator at the time. Ken and Larry went to every squadron on based and explained what they were going to do to clean things up. “With assistance and support from a great team (it always takes a team) after two years,Vancewas voted the best facility in the command.” We were very well thought of by the Wing and Base Commanders. One reason for our success was that we did some things that were unexpected.

The Wing Commander at a morning staff meeting said he would like to start doing wing retreat ceremonies and asked who wished to go first. Larry raised his hand and said the Medics would like the honor to be the first. By going first,it showed that the medics understood that they were a part of the Wing and also military professionals.

Larry worked for three different wing commanders in 3 years. At the end of his three-yeartour, he was assigned to Headquarter ATC/SG to work for Colonel Ray Inman (“Col Inman was one of my Mentors”). Sandy and the family were still in Transient Living Facilities when B/Gen Wesp and Colonel Inman called him in and said that the Commander at the USAF Hospital Laughlin was leaving. B/Gen. Wesp stated, “though we have not put an MSC in an inpatient facility as a Commander, if you are willing to take the assignment, we would like to send you there. The assignment has been clear through Lt/General Myers.” (Lt. General Myers was now the Air Force Surgeon General.)Larryfeltheneeded to take the assignment for the MSC Corps as there was a great deal of resistance to MSC’s being Commanders of clinics much less hospitals from some of the Medical Corps Senior Leadership. When Larrytook command at the USAF Hospital Laughlin, it was a 20-bed hospital. Larry said his biggest problem was that he was a Major (Lt.Col. Select) and there were nine Lt.Cols. and a full Colonel Dentist. The hospital excelled and received several overall outstandingratings on HSMI inspections as well as a Joint Commission Certification rated “With Distinction.”

Larry said he had a great team with outstanding MSC administrators: Major Jim Hooper, Captain Larry Witgan, and Major Talbot Vivian. There were many challenges that the hospital faced,butthe organizations rose the meet them head-on.Two interesting anecdotes:

One

General Iosue, USAF the Air Training Command Commander, came to visit Laughlin. The Wing Commander at the time was Col. (B/G) Gagliartiewho decided to take General Iosue to show him the hospital which is most unusual. General Iosue asked Lt. Col. Burchfied “…are these floors always thisshinny or were they clean up for my visit?” “No sir, this is how they always are”,Gen. Iosue talked to some physicians, nurses and a patient or two. Gen. Iosue turned to Larry and ask, “Did these physciansjust get a haircut because of my visit?” “No sir, they realize they are Air Force Officers and always keep their Haircut”. General Iosue upon departing Laughlin told the Wing Commander “That is the cleanest and most military hospital I have ever been in. Give them all the help they need”.

Two

The hospital had to take a pilot withNitrogen Narcosis (The bens) to Wilford Hall Medical Center. Driving at night in West Texas is very hazardous due to the substantial population of deer. As the patient was being transported, the driver of the ambulance swerved to miss a deer and rolled the ambulance.There were no injuries,but the ambulance was totaled. The wing commander at the time was Col. Bud Harrington,and at awing staff meeting, he had Larry explain preciselywhat happened. At the end of the presentation, he asked Larry “what you would have done if you were the driver?” Larry said, “Well, the same thing” Col. Harrington jumped up and forcefully stated, “No, that’s the wrong answer.” As it turnsout, there was ayoung Airman who worked in the ER whose father worked for the fire department in San Antonio and taught defensive driving for ambulance drivers, police department and the fired department in San Antonio. Larry asked the father,and he agreed to help developa course that was shown to hospital personnel, the Security Police,and the base fire department. This course was sent to ATC,and it was adoptedcommand-wide.

Laughlin’s first chief medical staff was a pony expresser who came into the Air Force as a Lt.Col. He lacked the leadership skills required for the position. Shortly after arriving Lt.Col. Burchfield was approached by two PAs(Jim Keyers, Herb Gonzales), and a Nurse Practioner (Mary Parish), andwas told that PA’s and NPwere on call in ER,but their physician back up got to stay at home off base. Larry upset the Chief of Medical staff by forcing the physicians back into the hospital when they were on call. Larry later hired Dr. Tom Baer. MD (retired Air Force Colonel, B-24 pilot, Silver Star) to be the chief of medical staff. Tom was very highly respected by staff.

Larry’s assignment at Laughlin ended after three years. Larry was hopeful that another MSC would get to be the Hospital CommanderbutGeneral Iosue selected a friend and physician Col. Jose Martinez - O’Farrell, USAF, MC.

After leaving Laughlin, Larry was transferredto be the Deputy Command Surgeon at Space Command. Much to Larry’ssurprise he was selected two years below the zone for full Colonel. This opened the door to attend senior service school in residence. Larry had wanted to go the Air War College but as the board was meeting Colonel Jack Murphey Larry, the Corps Chief, called Larry and asked if he would take an assignment to the Nation War College. Colonel Murphey said he had gottenB/Gen. DeHart, the board president, to accept best the best qualified,notjusta medical corps applicant. Larry of course said yes and was the first MSC to go to go to National War College. He was the only Medic from any service in the class of 1986. Upon graduation, he was sent to Sheppard AFB as Deputy Commander of the 3790th Medical Training Wing. Larry was the first MSC Vice Wing Commander. After a year he was PCS’d to PACAF as the Command Administrator. After only two years, B/Gen Chong the ATC Surgeon requested thatLarry return to Sheppard, 3790th Medical Training as the Wing Commander. Larry was the first MSC Air Force Wing Commander.

While at Sheppard, Larry received an unsolicited job offer from Foundation Health Corporation and retired from the Air Force in June 1992. He began a great second career as the Director for the Louisiana Operation with Foundation Health Federal Services. He managed the CHAMPUS Demonstration Initiative (CRI) in New Orleans from 1992- 1995. He worked closely with Ft. Polkand the Army’s Gateway to Care as well as with the retirees and families left from the England AFB closure. The medical community in Alexandria, Louisiana detested the mere mention of the term managed care. There was a large surgical group,and large medicine group both opposed to any form of managed care. The medical groups COO happened to be Lt. Col.(ret) Gary Hays and he was able to convince the medical group to accept managed care which ultimately drove the surgical group into acceptance as well. Col.(ret) Chuck Upton retired from Foundation which resulted in some ethical disagreements with some remaining civilian healthcare executives and Larry left Foundation Health

Humana won the TRICARE contract for the central region and Col. Gene Shields, USAF, MSC (ret) was selected to be President and CEO of Humana’s Military Health Services. Humana needed someone to run Gulf Health South in Biloxi, Mississippi and asked Larry to oversee the TRICARE Support Contract for Regions 3 and 4. In 2012 Larry was asked to serve as the interim Chief Operating Officer for the Southern Region. He served in this position for ten months then retired for the second and final time from Humana Military Health Services in Sept. 2012.

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Larry, do you remember who some of the early clinic commanders were?

Early clinic commanders, Toney Trezza (Lowery), Charley Brown, Gene Shield, Jim Hooper at Goodfellow, Don Shindel.

Why did you retire at 26 vs. 30?

[As I remember, at the time of your retirement there was a wave of anti-MSC sentiment emanating from DC headed by M/Gen. Bob Buethe.]

“…honestly, three reasons. First, I thought I had my best chance of being promoted and being the Corps Chief when Colonel (B/Gen)Pete Bellasario was selected, and another three years would have likely put me past the window (of opportunity) the next time. Also, a point you touched on was I didn't have a close relationship with the AF/SG who was not a strong supporter of MSC commanders either. I did appreciate that Pete called me when I put my retirement papers in to inquire why I decided not to wait, which was the second reason I shared with him. I had received an unsolicited good job offer from Foundation Health's COO, Col. (Ret) Chuck Upton and his CEO. The third, and maybe most important reason was I had moved my family five timesin 7 years, and my son and daughter were changing schools almost yearly! They needed some stability,and so did Sandy and I. Anyway, I left feeling very proud of my 26 year career with no regrets!”

What do you think was your most significant contribution to the Air Force?

“I think my constant focus and priority in every assignment on active duty and in my second career positions was to do my best to continually improve the healthcare experience for our active duty, family members, and retirees and their families. All are the most deserving beneficiaries in our Nation! A secondary contribution that I hoped to achieve was to do my best in a few of special opportunities I hoped that would pave the way for other MSCs in the future!”

Two to three competencies that you applied and what do you wish you have more of:

Competencies Applied.

1) Integrity – This is Essential

2) Team Builder – to include being part of the line organization

If you do a good job they are big supporters, If you screw up they will fire you in a heart beat…that is fair

3) Mentoring

Additional Competencies

“I did not have much time in the Normal functional areas….RMO, Logistics, Patient Affairs. I wish I had, had more core experience”

“A deeper understanding of technology.”

Most significant challenges: Not enough money. The Line did not have enough money for flying hours

Biggest Concerns:

Talk about the purple suit; Ipraythis never happens.

Pulling medics out from under the Line of the Air Forceis my biggest fear.