FAIRBORN — The Miami Valley Military History Museum in downtown Fairborn will be continuing its First Annual 2022 Speakers Series by hosting Colonel Dan Kirkpatrick, United States Air Force Retired, tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Kirkpatrick will be presenting his speech entitled “Ethical Issues in Healthcare in Combat Zones,” followed by a brief Q&A session for interested museum patrons. Kirkpatrick’s presentation builds upon his combat experiences in Kuwait at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was during that mission that Kirkpatrick commanded an Air Force hospital.
“It was the highlight of my career,” Kirkpatrick said in a press release issued by the museum.
Kirkpatrick first enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserves on December 17, 1971 as part of the 445th Military Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base, California. He was tasked with flying missions through the Pacific region as an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician.
In 1975, Kirkpatrick completed medical school before being commissioned as a 1st lieutenant in the Air Force Nurse Corps in 1978. Assignments throughout Kirkpatrick’s career included Texas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Japan before he retired from being a nurse at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 2007.
His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal w/ 7 oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster; Air Force Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 device; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Air Force Outstanding United Award w/ Valor; and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.
On Tuesday, June 7, Kirkpatrick will be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in Columbus.
Since retiring from the Air Force in 2007, Kirkpatrick served on the Fairborn City Council from 2009 to 2013 and served as mayor of Fairborn from 2013 to 2017. He currently serves as president of the Fairborn Area Historical Society, as co-chair of the Fairborn Military Veterans Memorial Project, and serves on the Miami Valley Military History Museum for which he is also the volunteer coordinator.
Kirkpatrick additionally serves on the American Veterans Heritage Center Board and chairs its education committee, and is a member of the Lions, Rotary, and various other local and national military and civic organizations.
Parking at the museum is free, as is admission to this and all other events. Masks are optional, and bottled water as well as individually wrapped snacks will be offered during this event.
The speakers series continues every second Wednesday of each month.
