Lieutenant Colonel Fornillos attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana where he earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing through the AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP) shortly after joining the United States Army. The AECP is a program for enlisted soldiers to earn their Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and receive a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. In December 2008, LTC Fornillos was the first soldier to earn a master’s degree through the AECP.

Lieutenant Colonel Fornillos began his military career in 2004 as a combat medic assigned to 2-77th Field Artillery Battalion, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed with 4th ID in 2005-2006 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom where he earned the Combat Medical Badge. After deployment, LTC Fornillos was assigned as an AECP student attached to the AMEDD Student Detachment in Fort Sam Houston, TX. As a Nurse Corps Officer, his assignments are: Clinical Nurse – Medical-Surgical Unit and Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin, CA; Clinical Nurse OIC/PCMH OIC/Immunizations Clinic OIC – US Army Health Clinic Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden, Germany; Clinical Research Coordinator – Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD; Med-Surg Clinical Nurse Specialist in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Patient Safety Specialist, National Capital Region Medical Directorate, transition Intermediate Management Organization, Defense Health Agency, Bethesda, MD; Clinical Nurse OIC of the Cardiovascular Health & Interventional Radiology in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Chief Nursing Officer of the US Army Health Clinic Vilseck, Rose Barracks, Germany; CNOIC, BDAACH PCMH, Camp Humphreys, Korea; Assistant Deputy Director for Nursing-Outpatient or BDAACH, Camp Humphreys, Korea; and Deputy Commander for Nursing  of the US Army Health Clinic Baumholder, US Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.

Lieutenant Colonel  Fornillos’ military education includes Basic Army Combat Training in Fort Benning, GA; Advanced Individual Training for Healthcare Specialist is Fort Sam Houston, TX; Officer Basic Leadership Course in Fort Sam Houston, TX; Captains Career Course in Fort Sam Houston, TX; Clinical Nurse OIC Leadership Course in Fort Sam Houston, TX; Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties Course in Aberdeen, MD; Entry Level Executive Nursing Course, Fort Sam Houston, TX; and Command and General Staff Officer Course, Redstone Arsenal, AL.

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Lieutenant Colonel Fornillos has advanced the nursing profession through evidence-based projects, clinical research, and competent leadership. He presented research and EBPs in multiple nursing and medical conferences around the world and published a peer-reviewed article in the journal Vaccine. Lieutenant Colonel Fornillos is a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse and an Advanced Practice Nurse Board Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Lieutenant Colonel Fornillos is married to Ethel and have three daughters: Ellah, Emmie, and Eryn.