Lt Col Bryan Sixkiller is the Operations Officer, 15^th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron and Human Performance Flight Commander at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He serves as the deputy to the squadron commander and overseas daily operations for 160 personnel to maximize appointment availability and readiness. As flight commander, he overseas Optometry, Physical Therapy, and Health Promotion services.  He ensures full scope delivery of health care to enable ready warfighters. He is the sole optometrist at Hickam providing vision readiness to six thousand Airmen. Additionally, he is the Biomedical Science Corps Executive Officer (SGB) guiding twenty BSC officers in eight career fields and he is the Clinical Operations Chief for the Air Force Optometry Corporate Board.

Sixkiller entered the Air Force in May 2011 serving as staff optometrist at Cannon AFB, NM.  In 2013, he went to Eielson AFB, AK as the Optometry Flight Commander.  Next, in 2016 he completed a career broadening assignment as a Test Director at the Air Force Medical Evaluation Support Activity at Ft Detrick, MD.  He was selected to attend Air Command and Staff College in 2018 and then in 2019 served as the Human Performance Flight Commander at Joint Base Charleston, SC. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Sixkiller completed a one-year optometry residency specializing in Vision Rehabilitation and Traumatic Brain Injury at the National Military Medical Center at Walter Reed Bethesda, MD.

Lt Col Sixkiller was raised in Claremore, OK and attended Rogers State University.  He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2000.  While in the Marine Corps, he deployed to Iraq in March 2003 with the 2^nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and in 2004 deployed to Afghanistan with the 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. After five years of enlisted service, he capitalized on the GI Bill’s education benefits.  He was selected for an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and completed a Doctor of Optometry from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK in 2011.

EDUCATION

2000 Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts, Rogers State University, Claremore OK

2000 USMC Basic Training, MCRD San Diego, CA

2001 450-Signals Interception Course, Corry Station, Pensacola, FL

2002 Amphibious Reconnaissance School (Ft Story, VA), SERE (NAS Brunswick, MA), Airborne (Ft Benning, GA)

2011 Doctor of Optometry, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, Tahlequah OK

2011 Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell AFB, AL

2012 Squadron Officer’s School, correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL

2014 Fellow, American Academy of Optometry, Denver, CO

2019 Air Command and Staff College, Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, in-residence, Maxwell AFB, AL

2020 Intermediate Executive Skills Course, correspondence, JB Charleston, SC

2023 Optometry Residency, TBI/Vision Rehabilitation, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD

ASSIGNMENTS

1. September 2000 – December 2000, recruit, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA
2. January 2001 – October 2001, “A" student, Corry Station, FL
3. November 2001 – September 2005, 2^nd Radio Reconnaissance Platoon, Camp Lejeune, NC
4. January 2003 – July 2003, 2^nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Operation Iraqi Freedom I
5. February 2004 – October 2004, 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
6. December 2004 – September 2005, Instructor, Special Operations Training Group, Stone Bay, Camp Lejeune, NC
7. May 2011 – June 2011, Commissioned Officer Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
8. July 2011 – June 2013, Staff Optometrist, Cannon AFB, NM
9. July 2013 – June 2016, Optometry Flight Commander, Eielson AFB, AK
10. July 2016 – June 2018, Chief, Clinical Systems Evaluations, Fort Detrick, MD
11. July 2018 – June 2019, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
12. July 2019 – June 2022, Human Performance Flight Commander, Joint Base Charleston, SC
13. July 2022 – June 2023, Resident, Traumatic Brain Injury and Vision Rehab, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, MD
14. July 2023 – present, Human Performance Flight Commander, JB Pearl Harbor Hickam, HI

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Air and Space Achievement Medal

Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2012 AFSOC Category I BSC Clinician Company Grade Officer of the Year

2013 PACAF Category I BSC Clinician Company Grade Officer of the Year

2020 AMC Category I BSC Clinician Field Grade Officer of the Year

PUBLICATIONS

“Clinical Management of Vertical Hyperphoria and Photophobia Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Study,” Vision Development & Rehabilitation 2023, Vol 9(2): 133-140.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS

American Academy of Optometry

American Optometric Association

Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Society

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Lance Corporal September 1, 2001

Corporal September 1, 2002

Sergeant December 1, 2003

Captain May 8, 2011

Major May 1, 2016

Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2023