David M. O’Brien, MD, MPH, FAsMA, FACOEM

David M. O’Brien, M.D., Acting Director, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

CAMI Deputy Director

Office of Aerospace Medicine

Federal Aviation Administration

Dr. David M. O'Brien serves as the FAA’s Acting Director of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute located at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, OK, where he oversees biomedical and human factors research programs, medical education and pilot medical certification. He previously served as the Institute’s Deputy Director and the Manager of the Aerospace Medical Certification Division, which oversees the certification of over 500,000 airmen operating within the United States National Aerospace System.

Dr. O'Brien is a retired military flight surgeon with over 1,700 flying hours.  During his 28-year career, he supported combat and mobility operations in the Asia-Pacific, European and Southwest Asian theaters, including 15 years supporting and directing global aeromedical patient evacuations for the Department of Defense, culminating as the Command Surgeon of the United States Transportation Command.

Dr. O'Brien received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, IL.  He completed residency training at Brooks AFB, TX, and is board certified in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine. He is a fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

EDUCATION

  • 1983 - Bachelor of Science in Biology, Loyola Marymount University, CA
  • 1987 - Doctor of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
  • 1994 - Master of Public Health, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
  • 1996 - Air Command and Staff College
  • 1999 - Air War College
  • 2012 - Federal Healthcare Executive Interagency Institute

ASSIGNMENTS

  • July 1988 - August 1993, Flight Surgeon, 836th Medical Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
  • August 1993 - May 1994, Student, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX
  • May 1994 - July 1996, Resident in Aerospace Medicine, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, TX
  • July 1996 - June 1999, Flight Commander, 354th Medical Operations Squadron, Eielson AFB, AK
  • June 1999 - July 2001, Commander, 47th Aeromedical Dental Squadron, Laughlin AFB, TX
  • July 2001- July 2004, Chief Flight Surgeon, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL
  • July 2004 - October 2006, Commander, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL
  • May 2006 - September 2006, Medical Director, US Central Command Patient Movement, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
  • September 2007 - Jan 2008, US Central Air Forces Forward Surgeon, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
  • October 2006 - June 2008, Commander, 1st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, Langley AFB, VA
  • July 2008 – July 2010, Commander, 51st Medical Group, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
  • August 2010 – March 2012, Command Surgeon, 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, HI
  • April 2012 – July 2016, Command Surgeon, United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB, IL
  • August 2016 – March 2026, Manager, Aerospace Medical Certification Division, Federal Aviation Administration
  • March 2026 – June 2026, Deputy Director, Civil Aerospace Medicine Institute, Federal Aviation Administration
  • July 2026 – present, Acting Director, Civil Aerospace Medicine Institute, Federal Aviation Administration

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