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SMSgt Anil Heendeniya

Air Force | Aerospace Medical Service

Dates of Service: Nov 1976 - Dec 1996

RETIRED

100% Complete

14 Endorsements

34 Contacts

Influence Score: 536,236
250 out of 865,819 Veterans

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Bio

US/UK/SL citizen. DOB 10/7/58 Colombo, Sri Lanka. London, UK ('61-'73, '74-'75): Selhurst HS: 11 GCSE 'O' levels, '75 USA ('73-'74, '75-'76) Seton Hall Prep, NJ USAF '76-'96: Aeromedical & PME, 10 tours (6 US + Spain & Japan). U.Md grad (Mgmt.) NEACP aircrewmember, '91/'92 Wrote the '93 & '95 USAF Aerospace Medicine Specialty Knowledge Tests for Promotion to SSgt (E5) thru MSgt (E7).

Military Experiences

Feb 1995 - Dec 1996

Command Superintendent, Aerospace Medicine, Office of the Command Surgeon, Headquarters Air Combat Command. Evaluator/Inspector, HQ ACC/IG, USAF Nuclear Surety Inspections/SAVs, and DoD Nuclear Surety Inspections

Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC) | Langley AFB, Hampton, VA

Provided ACC command guidance and support to Aerospace Medicine Flight Surgeons, Squadron Superintendents, and enlisted personnel in Air Combat Command, running interference for them when necessary to get the attention and assistance of the Air Combat Command Surgeon in correcting or supporting process improvements, mission enhancements for them, etc., as well as kicking over any hurdles they faced in tackling complex challenges. Assisted base-level aerospace medicine professionals and superintendents with command guidance, and ran interference for them in overcoming administrative roadblocks they faced. Regular lecturer at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine. Participated in 5 ACC/IG BiAnnual Base Inspections around the command. Board member for ACC Enlisted Recognition Programs.

Jun 1992 - Feb 1995

Squadron Superintendent, 1st AMD Squadron; Senior Aeromedical Technician, 72nd Helicopter Squadron; 1st Fighter Wing Quality Management Trainer/Evaluator (ACC) / HQ Air Combat Command IG and Nuclear Surety Inspection Team Member

1st Aerospace Medicine Squadron (ACC) | Langley AFB, Hampton, VA

Oversaw the activities of enlisted personnel within the Aerospace Medicine Squadron and its departments (Flight Medicine, Physical Examinations and Standards, Environmental Medicine, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Aerospace Physiology and Training, and Health Education) in delivering high-quality healthcare to the patient population. Flew as the aeromedical technician with the 72nd Helicopter Squadron. Flew medical support and medevac roles during Operation Desert Shield. Base Exercise Evaluation Team Member. As an adjunct to the 1st FW/CC, presented supervision and management enrichment courses to middle and senior enlisted personnel.

May 1991 - Jun 1992

Superintendent, Aerospace Medicine, 55th AMDS / Aeromedical Aircrewmember, 1st Air Command and Control Squadron, National Emergency Airborne Command Post (SAC) Presidential Support

55th AMDS (SAC)/1st ACCS (SAC)) | Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE

Oversaw the activities of, and provided guidance and support to, all enlisted personnel in Physical Examinations and Standards, Flight Medicine, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Environmental Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine to ensure efficient operations and quality mission outcomes. Performed Staff Asssistance Visits in Strategic Air Command at several bases, and flew as the aeromedical element along with the flight surgeon in support of the president and Air Force One as crewmembers of The National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP), which is now NAOP (National Airborne Operations Post). Assisted the ACC/SG with enlisted issues. Special Duty: Sr. Test Writer, USAF Aerospace Medicine Career Field Specialty Knowledge Tests (SKTs) for the FY'88 promotion cycle to SSgt through MSgt.

Jul 1988 - Mar 1991

Pacific Air Forces NCO Academy Director of Education, Curriculum Developer/Manager, and 'A' Flight Lead Instructor

Pacific Air Forces NCO Academy (PACAF) | Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan

Led a stellar instructor staff of 12 experienced (mostly senior) master and technical sergeants at the Pacific Air Forces Noncommissioned Officer Academy in developing, writing, teaching/instructing, and measuring (testing) a wide range of academics in advanced concepts of leadership and management at the knowledge, comprehension and application levels for mid-tier and senior (E6 and E7) noncommissioned officers in the Pacific Theater of operations. Also oversaw Pacific Air Forces' NCO Academy curricula for adjunct facilities at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam and Wheeler Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Deployments

(5 months)

Dec 1991 - Jan 1992

Darwin, Australia and Okinawa, Japan

Aeromedical support on the National Emergency Airborne Command Post and Air Force One for President George H. W. Bush's ten-day trip to Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial; security meetings in Sydney, AUS; and Tokyo, Japan, and the ASEAN Conference in Singapore. The first leg was 37.5 hours in the air, wheels up to wheels down, 3 refuelings.

Feb 1991

Saudi Arabia

Deployed to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as part of the aeromedical support contingent at the tail end of Operation Desert Storm.

May 1981

Grazzanise AB, Naples, Italy

1 Endorsement

Provided aeromedical support for USAF & ANG units during NATO Exercise Dawn Patrol for an Air National Guard EB-57 Canberra unit.

Feb 1981

Cuenca, Spain

Extended recovery operation and onsite medical support following a fatal F-4D mishap in the Spanish mountains. After recovering all the remains of the crew, we had to remove all metal fragments from the mountainous valley to prevent the possibility of forest fires. I remained as site medic for two weeks with the skeleton crew.

Military Credentials

Professional Development Schools

Aug 1994 - Sep 1994

Distinguished Graduate, US Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, AL

Aug 1984 - Sep 1984

'A' Flight Commander (for parades), Commandant's Award Winner, and Distinguished Graduate, Air Training Command NonCommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, TX

Aug 1980

Honor Graduate, NCO Preparatory Course, Torrejon AB, Spain

Feb 1979

Honor Graduate, USAF Airman Leadership School, Torrejon AB, Spain

Individual & Special Skill Schools

Mar 1992

US Navy Helicopter Egress/Evac and Dunker Training/Confidence Course, Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA

May 1987

USAF Enlisted Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) Test Writers Course, USAF Occupational Measurement Center, Randolph AFB, TX

Oct 1986 - Nov 1986

USAF Curriculum Development, Measurement, and Test Writers Course, Lackland AFB, TX

May 1985