Col. Keye S. Latimer is Commander and Military Medical Treatment Facility Director, Vance Medical Group, Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Under his command, the medical group executes a $6.7M budget and provides health care and preventive health services for the 71st Flying Training Wing’s Undergraduate Pilot Training students and 3,900 Vance AFB community beneficiaries. Additionally, Vance Medical Group supports Air Force Medical Command’s readiness and mobility requirements for ready medics and medically ready forces and develops innovative Airmen for current and future combat operations.
Col. Latimer hails from Little Rock, Arkansas, where he received a direct commission into the United States Air Force in May 1998. Throughout his career he has held a variety of positions within the Air Force Medical Service to include two deployments in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Chief of Staff, Wing Staff Agency Commander, Legislative Liaison and Senior Biomedical Sciences Corps Executive, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Medical Technology, Univ of Ark for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Ark.
1999 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2006 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Masters of Science, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
2016 Masters of Health Administration, Webster University, Branch Campus, Little Rock, Ark.
2020 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1998–October 2001, Chief, Lab Services, Vance Air Force Base (AFB), Okla.
2. October 2001–October 2004, Associate Chief, Core Lab, Yokota AFB, Japan
3. October 2004–July 2007, Associate Chief, Core Element, WHMC, Lackland AFB, Texas (May 2005–Sept 2005, Chief, Lab Operations, Balad Air Base (AB), Iraq)
4. July 2007–July 2010, Chief, Lab Operations, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, UK.
5. September 2010–June 2012, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Cincinnati., Ohio
6. July 2012–May 2017, Diagnostics Flight Commander, Little Rock AFB, Ark. (October 2014 – April 2015, Chief, Lab Operations, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan)
7. May 2017–August 2020, Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight Commander, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
8. August 2020–December 2021, Laboratory Flight Commander, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. December 2021–June 2022, Commander, 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, 88th AB Wing, Wright- Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
10. August 2022–July 2024, Commander, 6th Medical Support Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
11. July 2024-July 2026, Chief of Staff, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB, Texas
12. July 2026–Present, Commander/MTF Director, Vance Medical Group, Vance AFB, Okla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon with 1 oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2009 USAF Clinical Laboratory Manager of the Year
2015 19th Airlift Wing FGO of the Year
2015 USAF Biomedical Specialist Category I FGO of the Year
2018 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Distinguished Military Service Award
2019 DoD High Reliability in Healthcare Award for Improved Access
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 20, 1998
First Lieutenant January 20, 2000
Captain January 20, 2002
Major February 7, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2017
Colonel June 1, 2025
(Current as of August 2026)