Colonel Lemuel J. Shaffer serves as the Commander for the 183d Medical Group, Illinois Air National Guard, Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield, IL. He advises the Wing Commander on all medical matters pertaining to over 800 drill status guard, active guard reserve and technician members assigned. He heads a group of more than 50 traditional and full-time Air National Guard members operating a variety of programs in public health, nursing, bioenvironmental, laboratory, dental, optometry, immunizations and audio services. As a Senior Flight Surgeon he has accrued over 300 flying hours. He ensures medical readiness capabilities, home station medical response and the ability for members to deploy to austere environments.
Colonel Shaffer received a direct commission into the Medical Corps in 1986 at the 126th Air National Guard Wing, O’Hare Air National Guard Base in Chicago, Illinois, as a Flight Surgeon. He later was appointed Chief of Aerospace Medicine. Due to a 1999 BRAC-directed action, he relocated to the Reserve Unit at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In 2001, he transferred to the 183d Fighter Wing, Springfield, Illinois, as the Chief of Aerospace Medicine for the 183d Medical Group. He took command of the 183d Medical Group in January of 2017.
Colonel Shaffer has over 38 years’ experience in the medical field. In 1988, he became an attending staff member with Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center and later became an employee at Access Community Health Network. He has also served as an Assistant Professor for Finch University Medical School training and educating hundreds of medical students and residents. He has held multiple hospital appointments including, but not limited to, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the Medical Staff; member of the Wellness Committee, Medical Executive Committee, and Quality Assurance Committee. Colonel Shaffer was hired full-time at the 183d Medical Group in January of 2019. He maintains Individual Medical Readiness for the Wing by completing Public Health Assessments, Waivers, Deployment Readiness Health Assessments, and Line of Duties. He is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Outside of the Medical Group, he serves as a member of the medical staff for both Memorial and Mount Sinai Medical Center to maintain board certification.
EDUCATION
1975 Bachelor of Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, DePaul University
1983 Doctor of Medicine, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University-Medicine & Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology
1988 Residency, Cook County Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology
1990 Internship, Cook County Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology
2003 Master of Business Administration in Medical/Health, Keller Graduate School of Management2015 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1986 – 1999, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 126th ANG, O’Hare ANGB, Chicago, Ill.
2. 1999 – 2001, Flight Surgeon, 932nd ARW, Scott AFB, Ill.
3. 2001 – 2017, Chief of Aerospace Medicine, 183d Medical Group, Springfield, Ill.
4. May 2009 – July 2009, Flight Surgeon, Baghdad, Iraq
5. 2017 – Present, Commander, 183d Medical Group, Springfield, Ill.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
Iraq Campaign Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain July 11, 1983
Major August 5, 1989
Lieutenant Colonel October 2, 1993
Colonel December 10, 2015
(Current as of August 2021)