Deputy Director, Defense Health Network Atlantic

Col. Robert M. Paz is the Deputy Director for the Defense Health Network Atlantic. He oversees health care delivery for 13 Medical Treatment Facilities and more than 40 branch health clinics.

Col. Paz attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, and earned a bachelor of arts degree with honors in accounting in 1993. He also attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1995.

Col. Paz entered military service in 1996 with a direct commission in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps. His first assignment was at McClellan Air Force Base, California, where he executed an $18 million budget, managed a 650-person manpower program in support of over 55,000 beneficiaries, and spearheaded the facility closure/drawdown planning. In 1999, Col Paz was assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, where he served as a medical readiness officer and as group practice manager. Col. Paz was assigned to Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal in 2002 where he served in nearly every Medical Service Corps functional area and as deputy medical support squadron commander. Two year later, Col. Paz returned to Kirtland AFB to the Headquarters Air Force Inspection Agency where he served as an executive officer, a medical inspector and as chief of the Medical Support Division. From 2008-2010, Col. Paz served as the administrator and deputy commander of the 62d Medical Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. From 2010-2012, Col. Paz served as the 14th Medical Support Squadron commander. He led a squadron of 74 personnel that provided essential administrative support and diagnostic and therapeutic services for Columbus AFB’s 6,300 beneficiaries. Col. Paz served as 79th Medical Wing Commander’s director of staff from 2012-2014 and oversaw the wing’s Public Affairs, Protocol, Executive and Commander Action Group functions. In September 2013, Col. Paz deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as Staff Officer for Afghan National Security Forces Reconstruction and Development where he aided the strategy and future stability of 357,000 ANSF. In May 2014, he became the 79th Medical Wing’s first inspector general providing IG support to 1,600 personnel at five joint service locations as well as standing up the Wing Inspection and Complaints Resolution programs. In June 2015, Col. Paz served as administrator for the 633rd Medical Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia and led joint multi-service market development efforts to recapture and integrate medical care across three service Military Treatment Facilities. In August 2019, Col. Paz relocated to Travis Air Force Base, California, as the 60th medical group administrator where he established and expanded the Sacramento Market and directed partnership activities for the U.S. Air Force’s largest DOD/VA joint venture managing health care delivery services for 276,000 Department of Defense and Veterans Administration beneficiaries.

Col. Paz has completed the Health Services Administration program at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Squadron Officer’s School (correspondence), Squadron Officer’s School (in-residence), Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), and Air War College (correspondence).

Col. Paz’s awards and decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medical with one oak leaf cluster and he was named Air Force Inspection Agency Field Grade Officer of the Year 2006.

Col. Paz is a credentialed member of the American Academy of Medical Administrators and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives.