Calera resident takes command of New York Air National Guard medical group

Air Guard Lt. Col. Rhonda M. Ellison, a Calera veterinarian, will serve at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on the Canadian border

Niagara Falls, New York (02/21/2025) — NIAGARA FALLS N.Y.- Lt. Col. Rhonda M. Ellison, a Calera, Alabama resident, was sworn in as the Medical Group commander for the New York Air National Guard's 107th Attack Wing on January 11, 2025.

The wing, which operates the MQ-9 Reaper, remotely piloted aircraft, is based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls, New York.

As a civilian she is co-owner of the Calera Animal Hospital in her hometown of Calera.

The change of command ceremony was presided over by Col. Andrew J. Carlson the commander of the 107th Attack Wing.

Ellison transferred to the 107th from the Tennessee Air National Guard's 118th Wing in Nashville, where she served as the group Public Health Officer.

She will fulfill the role as a Drill Status Guardsman, attending as directed for regularly scheduled drills and additional training days.

In her role there, she was responsible for hearing conservation, deployment health, occupational health, community health, health epidemiology, budgeting, preventative medicine, and force health management.

Prior to becoming a commission officer in the Air Force in August of 2006, Ellison served in the Army and Army Reserve from 1988 to 2001.

She started her Army career as a switchboard operator at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

She also served as Administrative Non-Commissioned Officer with the 228th Army Reserves Force School in Montgomery, Alabama, and Training Instructor with 5th Battalion, 100th Institutional Training Division in Jackson, Mississippi.

During this time, she also earned her Bachelor of Science from Kentucky Wesley in 1994, and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Tuskegee Veterinary School in 1998.

Her last assignment before transitioning to the Air Force was as a Veterinarian with the Tuskegee Veterinary Corps in Tuskegee Alabama from 2001-2002.

The Veterinary Corps did not have a veterinary unit within a reasonable distance, so a client recommended their unit, 117th Air Refueling Wing out of Birmingham.

A veterinarian qualifies for the Public Health Officer position because of their knowledge gained in school and practice.

Ellison said she sought the position at the 107th Attack Wing because it is similar to the 118th Wing she formerly served in.Both wings fly the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, Ellison explained.

Ellison said she wants the group to expand training for the Airmen of the 107th Medical Group, as well as building comradery and improving communication within the group and with Airmen across the wing.

"I want to help the next generation of Airmen become the best of themselves," she said.

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