Presidential Air Force Medic

Making the news is Brigadier General (Dr) Richard Tubb, an Air Force medic who is also the physician to President George W. Bush. Brig Gen Tubb took care of Maureen Dowd, a NY Times columnist and frequent critic of President Bush, during the President’s recent trip to the Middle East.

Brig Gen Tubb’s job description includes:

Physician to the President, and Director, White House Medical Unit, the White House, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for providing direct support and advice to the President of the United States, and he oversees all healthcare services within the White House, Camp David, the Western White House, aboard executive aircraft, while deployed and at contingency locations.

And as a flight surgeon, Brig Gen Tubb is also uniquely qualified to provide medical services for his “high-flying” boss and staff on Air Force One.

Unlike the other Air Force Medical Service flag officers, Brig Gen Tubb is “operational” in the sense that he is not directly involved in AFMS policy and organization. In his role as the President’s doctor, he exists somewhat outside of the traditional AFMS boundaries. Oh, and one additional perk of the job: being “pinned on” by the Commander-in-Chief!

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