Colonel Richard Gonzales
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Colonel Richard Gonzales, a native of San Antonio Texas, received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Biology from St. Mary’s University in 1985, San Antonio Texas and dual Masters of Science degrees in Biology and Immunohematolgy from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. He received his commission as a second lieutentant in the Medical Service Corps and was a Distinguished Military Graduate.
He currently serves as Advanced Development Product Manager for Blood Products, US Army Medical Material Development Activity, Medical Research and Material Command, Director of the Army Blood Program and is the Blood Bank Consultant to the Army Surgeon General.
His initial assignment was as a Medical Platoon Leader, 2/8 Infantry Battalion (Mech), Ft Carson, CO. Subsequent assignments include Company Executive Officer, 517th Medical Company (Clearing), Ft Carson, CO; Laboratory Manager, USA MEDDAC, Ft Sill ,OK; Chief Laboratory Services, 47th Field Hospital, Operation Desert Shield/Storm; Chief Blood Services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Ft Bliss, TX; Korea Area Joint Blood Program Officer, Yongson, ROK; Chief, Laboratory Services, 94th General Hospital, Seagoville, TX; Assistant Professor of Military Science and Battalion Executive Officer, 4th ROTC Region, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA; Chief, Blood Services, South East Region Medical Command, Ft. Gordon, GA; Chief, Blood Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; US Central Command Joint Blood Program Officer, Operation Enduring Freedom; Deputy Director Armed Services Blood Program Office, Falls Church, VA; Chief, Blood Donor Operations, North Atlantic Regional Medical Command ; Branch Chief, Blood Bank and Hematology, AMEDD Center and School; South East Regional Medical Command Blood Program Officer, Fort Gordon, GA and Combat Developer for Laboratory and Blood Products, Directorate of Combat Doctrine and Development, AMEDD Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, TX. He has also served as a PROFIS officer for numerious units, most recently as the Joint Blood Program Officer, Combined Forces Command, Korea.
He is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer’s Basic and Advance Courses, US Army Medical Logistics Management Course, US Army Clinical Laboratory Officers Course, the Tri- Service Blood Bank Fellowship Course, US Army Combined Armed Services Staff School, and the US Command and General Staff College, the Intermediate Medical Acquisition Course and the AMEDD Executive Skills Course. He has completed Level 2 Acquisition training with the Defense Acquisition University.
He is a certifed Medical Technologist and a Specialist in Blood Banking. He serves as an Assessor with the American Association of Blood Banks and as an Inspector for the College of American Pathologists. He hold the “8X” Acquisition skill identifier and the “8T” Blood Banker skill identifier.
Colonel Gonzales’ awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters(OLC), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 6 OLC, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 OLC, the Reserve Forces Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Korea Service Medal, Southwest Asia Campaign Medal with 2 bronze devices, the Saudi Arabian Liberation of Kuwait Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditinary Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Citation with 3OLC, the Army Superior Unit Citation with 3 OLC and the Expert Field Medical Badge. He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and is recognizeed as an expert in his field with the 9 “A “ Proficiency Designator in Clinical Laboratory by the US Army Surgeon General.
