Paul K. Carlton Jr.

Last updated
Paul K. Carlton Jr.
Paul K Carlton Jr.jpg
Lieutenant General (Dr.) Paul K. Carlton Jr.
Born (1947-05-13) May 13, 1947 (age 77)
Roswell, New Mexico
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1969–2002
Rank Lieutenant General
CommandsSurgeon General of the Air Force
Awards Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Airman's Medal
Air Medal
RelationsGeneral Paul K. Carlton (father)

Lieutenant General (Dr.) Paul Kendall Carlton Jr. (born May 13, 1947) [1] is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant general who last served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

Contents

General Carlton was commissioned after being honored a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1969. He is a fellow and former Air Force governor of the American College of Surgeons. He was named a consultant in general surgery to the Air Force surgeon general in 1981. He conceptualized and implemented the first Air Force rapid-response surgical team in Europe—the flying ambulance surgical trauma team. He remains an active surgeon having performed more than 4,000 operations as principal surgeon and 6,000 as first assistant. He has published extensively in medical literature.

An active flier, General Carlton holds Federal Aviation Administration commercial, instrument, multi-engine, glider and instructor ratings. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 1702nd Air Refueling Wing Contingency Hospital, completing 32 combat support missions and 140 combat flying hours in the C-21, C-130, KC-10 and KC-135. He retired from the Air Force December 1, 2002. [2]

After retiring from the Air Force, General Carlton was named Director of the Homeland Security Initiative for the Texas A&M Health Science Center to address homeland security issues related to human health. [3]

General Carlton is the managing member of PK Concepts, LLC. [4]

Education

Assignments

Major awards and decoration

Airman's Medal

Airman's Medal.jpg

Citation:

Lieutenant General Paul K. Carlton, Jr. distinguished himself by heroism involving voluntary risk of life at the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia on 11 September 2001. On that date, an American Airlines 757 with 67 passengers originating at Dulles Airport crashed into the Pentagon near the heliport. The approximate number of casualties at point of impact was 190. General Carlton was in the Pentagon at the time of the crash. Knowing that there would be numerous casualties, he proceeded to Corridor 4, C ring. General Carlton entered a room filled with chest high debris. Although half the room was engulfed in flames and smoke filled, General Carlton and several other rescuers located a trapped victim who was stuck under some fallen debris. The men could see the trapped victim but could not quite reach the man. One of the rescuers cleared the debris while General Carlton tried to pull the victim free. He then placed a water-soaked tee shirt on the victim's face to aid his breathing. The victim was roused, and realizing the imminent danger they were all facing, rolled to his left far enough for General Carlton to grab him. They were then able to move the victim to safety. All the while, the room continued to rain fire and debris on General Carlton and the others. As the fire intensified and moved closer in the room, General Carlton continued to sweep the room for other victims. There was a loud noise; the flaming ceiling began to fall and one of the rescuers shouted for all to leave the area. As the metal caging in the ceiling gave way, General Carlton helped the others to escape the burning room. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by General Carlton reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. [6]

Commendations

Lt Gen Carlton has been awarded the following: [6]

USAF Command Flight Surgeon Badge-Historical.png
United States Air Force Parachutist Badge.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Airman's Medal ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Commendation Medal ribbon.svg AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Organizational Excellence ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg
U.S. Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Longevity Service Award USAF.svg Silver oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
Headquarters US Air Force Badge.png
Badge Air Force Command Flight Surgeon Badge
Badge Basic Parachutist Badge
1st row Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster
2nd row Airman's Medal Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal
3rd row Air Force Commendation Medal Air Force Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Joint Meritorious Unit Award
4th row Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
with 3 bronze Oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
with 1 bronze Oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal
with 2 Service stars
5th row Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal
with 2 bronze Campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
6th row Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon
with 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award
with 1 silver and 2 bronze Oak leaf clusters (7 awards)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
7th row Air Force Training Ribbon Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
(Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Kuwait)
Badge Headquarters Air Force Badge

Effective dates of promotion

Dates of Rank
InsigniaRankDate
US-OF1B.svg Second Lieutenant June 4, 1969
US-OF1A.svg First Lieutenant December 4, 1970
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain June 4, 1972
US-O4 insignia.svg Major June 4, 1975
US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel June 4, 1980
US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel October 1, 1985
US-O7 insignia.svg Brigadier General October 1, 1991
US-O8 insignia.svg Major General May 25, 1995
US-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General December 1, 1999

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References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

  1. Marquis Who's Who on the Web
  2. "LIEUTENANT GENERAL (DR.) PAUL K. CARLTON JR". United States Air Force Biographies. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  3. "A&M HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER APPOINTS CARLTON TO DIRECT HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS". Vital Record. Texas A&M Health Science Center. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  4. Carlton, Paul. "Improved Health and Health Facility Design in Africa". Vimeo. Texas A&M College of Architecture. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  5. "List of Surgeons General and Deputy Surgeons of the United States Air Force" (PDF). Air Force Medical Service. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Paul K. Carlton, Jr". veterantributes.org. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
Preceded by Surgeon General of the United States Air Force
1999–2002
Succeeded by