Col. Donald F. Thompson, USAF (Ret) retired in May 2009 after 27 years of service as a physician and flight surgeon. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1979 and his M.D. from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 1986. He served in a variety of clinical and policy positions during his Air Force career, including Command Surgeon, Combined Forces Command, Afghanistan, and Special Assistant for Bio-Defense at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy).

Following his retirement from active duty, he served in the Office of the Inspector General, DoD, Washington, D.C., and is past director of Global Health Outreach, Christian Medical & Dental Association. Thompson resides in Bristol, Tenn.