LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The Department of the Air Force is transitioning toward full implementation of the Air Force Medical Command, and on Dec. 2, 2025, initiated its most recent inter-command transfer to align the 56th Medical Group under AFMEDCOM’s 359th Medical Wing.
The third of 12 tranches, this iteration of AFMEDCOM’s inter-command transfer process realigns medical Airmen currently assigned under the Air Education and Training Command, including those at Luke, to the 359th MDW. When all tranches are complete, AFMEDCOM will become the largest direct reporting unit in the Air Force with future command and control responsibility for more than 24,000 medical Airmen.
According to medical officials, the 56th MDG’s name will change to Luke Medical Group, and other changes should be transparent to beneficiaries. DAF medical staff will be aligned under AFMEDCOM, but their duties and day-to-day responsibilities will remain the same.
AFMEDCOM was implemented to prioritize DAF medical and operational readiness, achieve parity with sister services, and continue military authority and accountability in Air Force Medicine following structural changes created by the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. Per the NDAA, the Defense Health Agency will continue overseeing health care delivery at military treatment facilities, while AFMEDCOM will ensure the medical readiness of Airmen and maintain a ready medical force capable of meeting operational requirements.
“While the 59 MDG will be renamed Luke Medical Group, the medical Airmen are committed to providing the same level of quality care to beneficiaries and medical support to the installation,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Adrianne Rosario, 56th Medical Group commander. “We’re focused on making sure our Airmen understand the changes, the timelines, and how it impacts their roles.”
The command structure provides clear alignment, from installation medical groups through medical wings and commands, to the AFMEDCOM commander. This redesign enables the enterprise to organize, train, and equip medical forces for operational missions while continuing to partner with the DHA to sustain continuity of health care.
As the DAF prepares for AFMEDCOM’s full operational capability in late 2027, leaders are prioritizing the establishment of consistent command and control for medical groups, strengthening readiness tasks, stabilizing civilian staffing to support patient access, and expanding clinical and operational training platforms for medical Airmen.
“This organizational shift allows us to elevate our operational medical readiness capabilities by streamlining command and control,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Betty Venth, 359th Medical Wing commander. “Ultimately, it ensures we continue to provide world-class support to our warfighters and their families.”
Leaders emphasized that AFMEDCOM does not replace the Air Force Medical Service, but strengthens it by providing defined authority, unity of command, and unity of effort across medical functions. The DAF expects expanded clinical and operational proficiency, strengthened partnerships with the DHA, stable access to care supported by civilian staffing, and sustained delivery of medically ready forces to commanders at every level.
“While the command structure above us will shift, the mission at the Airman level will not change,” Rosario said. “We will still provide the same level of care, the same support to the installation, and the same standard of excellence. My goal is for Airmen to feel very little difference in their day-to-day work.”
The establishment of AFMEDCOM marks the first command-level medical organization in DAF history and is intended to deliver combat-ready medical forces in support of Air Force missions, strengthening the foundation of the force and elevating the way Airmen are trained, supported, and prepared across the installation.