Col Achilles J. Hamilothoris is the 48th Medical Group Commander and Military Treatment Facility Director at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. As Commander, he is responsible for the largest Air Force Medical Treatment Facility in Europe, where he oversees 5 squadrons, 871 Airmen, and a $33 million budget, operating 31 specialty clinics and 34 inpatient beds. The 48th Medical Group supports 4 wings, including 2 Limited Scope Medical Treatment Facilities, delivering premier medical, behavioral health and dental healthcare services for over 35,000 eligible beneficiaries across the United Kingdom. Prior to this assignment, Col Hamilothoris was the Air Mobility Command Deputy Surgeon General at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
Colonel Hamilothoris graduated from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1995, and from Auburn University where he received his Master of Science Degree in Process Engineering and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, with emphasis on Medical Error Detection and Prevention in 2008. He is also board certified in Healthcare Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Colonel Hamilothoris worked as a civilian pharmacist prior to being commissioned in the United States Air Force in March 2001, and since then, he has served in the DOD Medical, Pharmacy, Joint Readiness, Logistics, Business Operations, Aeromedical Evacuation and Beneficiary Services at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of command. Colonel Hamilothoris is from South River, NJ.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. 2005 Squadron
Officer School, in Residence, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.
2008 Master of Science Degree in Process Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. 2008 Air
Command and Staff College, in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2014 Air War College, by Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2014 Air Force Medical Service Intermediate Executive Skills Course, San Antonio, TX.
2017 Board Certified, National Healthcare Disaster Program, American Nurses Association, Silver
Spring, MD. 2019 Air War College, in Residence, Maxwell AFB, AL.
2022 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders, Washington, DC. 2023 Joint Senior Medical
Leaders Course, Washington, DC.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2001 – December 2003, Chief, Base Exchange Pharmacy, 60th Medical Group, Travis Air
Force Base, CA.
2. December 2003 – June 2004, Pharmacotherapy Anticoagulation Clinic Chief, 60th Medical Group,
Travis AFB, CA.
3. June 2004 – June 2006, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight Commander, 36th Medical Group, Andersen
Air Base Wing, Guam.
4. June 2006 – August 2008, USAF Institute for Technology Master’s Degree Student, Auburn
University, Auburn, AL.
5. August 2008 – August 2009, Chief, Pharmacy Branch, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Philadelphia,
PA.
6. August 2009 – April 2010, Chief, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Distribution, CENTRAL
COMMAND
Deployed Distribution Operations Center, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Kandahar, Afghanistan.
7. April 2010 – June 2012, Customer Pharmacy Operations Center Creator and Division Chief, DLA,
Philadelphia, PA.
8. June 2012 – June 2016, Pharmacy Flight Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command Pharmacy
Consultant, 2nd Medical Group, Barksdale AFB, LA.
9. June 2016 – June 2018, Commander, 17th Medical Support Squadron, 17th Medical Group, Goodfellow
AFB, TX.
10. July 2018 – July 2019, Air War College In-Residence Student, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL.
11. July 2019 – July 2021, Commander, 55th Medical Support Squadron, 55th Medical Group, Offutt
AFB, NE.
12. July 2021 – June 2022, Deputy Commander, 96th Medical Group, Eglin AFB, FL.
13. June 2022 – June 2024, Commander, 45th Medical Group, Patrick Space Force Base, FL.
14. June 2024 – July 2025, Air Mobility Command Deputy Surgeon General, Scott AFB, IL.
15. July 2025 – Present, Commander, 48th Medical Group, Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath, United
Kingdom.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2008 – June 2012, Customer Pharmacy Operations Center Creator and Division Chief, DLA,
Philadelphia, PA, as a Major
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with 1 oak leaf cluster Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon with 2 oak leaf clusters Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal Air Force Small Arms Expert Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 USAF Company Grade Pharmacy Officer of the Year 2010 Defense Logistics Agency Pharmacy Officer
of the Year 2012 USAF Field Grade Pharmacy Officer of the Year
2013 Pharmacy Times Magazine Military Pharmacist of the Year
2014 Society of Federal Health Professionals (AMSUS) Andrew Craige Allied Health Professional of
the Year 2014 USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Category 1 Field Grade Officer of the Year
2015 USAF Biomedical Sciences Corps Large Team of the Year 2016 Goodfellow AFB Wing Unit of the
Year
2017 Air Force Association (AFA) Texas Unit of the Year 2019 USAF Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient
Safety Program 2021 USAF Hospital of the Year
2022 DOD Patient Safety Award
2023 Defense Health Agency High Reliability Organization Award 2024 USAF Clinic of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
First Lieutenant March 1, 2001
Captain Sept. 1, 2001
Major Oct. 1, 2007
Lieutenant Colonel Nov. 1, 2013
Colonel March 1, 2021
(Current as of August 2025)