Col Craig H. Rhyne, Jr. is the Commander, 39th Medical Group, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye. He commands 190 medics, across two squadrons, executes an $8 million budget, and provides a wide range of medical services caring for the health and wellness of 1,650 personnel across Türkiye. As Commander, he develops plans and policies to guide coordination of local, regional, and host nation healthcare. Additionally, he oversees the medical arm of the Personnel Reliability Assurance Program (PRAP), ensuring the 39th Air Base Wing are fit to fight, and always medically ready to provide Safe, Secure, and Reliable protection for the U.S. and NATO assets while protecting NATO’s southern flank.
Col Rhyne was born and raised in South Carolina. The colonel was commissioned in the United States Army in 2001 and the United States Air Force in 2015. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of education, clinical and leadership positions to include staff oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Flight Commander and Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center. Col Rhyne is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and board certified by the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Col Rhyne has authored several publications.
Col Rhyne graduated from The Citadel in 1996 and then the Medical University of South Carolina in 2001. He was selected for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training and completed his residency in 2005. The colonel completed a fellowship in Facial Cosmetic Surgery in 2018. As an officer in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, at Winn Army Hospital, Col Rhyne led the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery service and hospital clinic as Department Chair, Officer in Charge and Medical Director of Anesthesia. After serving six years active duty in the Army, he began a successful private practice in Charleston, South Carolina. During this time, Col Rhyne chaired the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Departments at Roper and St. Francis Hospitals in Charleston, SC. From 2009 to 2013, the colonel led Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, as an elected City Councilman and Emergency Services Committee Chair. Passionate about serving those who serve, he returned to active duty in 2015.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Biology – The Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
2001 Doctor of Dental Medicine – Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
2005 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Certificate – Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC
2018 Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship Certificate – Tulsa Surgical Arts, Tulsa, OK
2019 Air War College – The Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama – by correspondence
2023 Capstone Course for MHS Leaders – Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute – by correspondence
2024 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Leaders – The George Washington University, Washington, DC
2025 Joint Senior Medical Leaders Course – Office of the Joint Command Surgeon – Falls Church, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2001 – June 2005, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident and Chief Resident, United States Army
2. July 2005 – July 2008, Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, DENTAC, Ft. Stewart, GA, United States Army
3. April 2015 – June 2017, Staff Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, 59th Dental Training Squadron
4. June 2017 – July 2018, Cosmetic Surgery Fellow
5. July 2018 – February 2020, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Training Staff
6. February 2020 – June 2021, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Flight Commander and Chairman, JBSA – Lackland
7. June 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 374th Dental Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
8. April 2023 – June 2023, Commander, 374th Surgical Operations Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
9. July 2023 – June 2025, Commander, 86th Dental Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany
10. June 2025 – Present, Commander, 39th Medical Group, Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Board Certified, American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery
2020 Flight of the Year, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – 59th Dental Group
2021 and 2022 AFMS Large Dental Clinic of the Year – Pacific Air Forces
2023 and 2024 AFMS Large Dental Clinic of the Year – U.S. Air Forces in Europe
PUBLICATIONS
Revision Rhinoplasty. (2018) Cosmetic Surgery. Cuzalina LA, Rhyne CH
Office Based Maxillofacial Cosmetic Procedures: Laser Skin Resurfacing. (2018) Office-Based Maxillofacial Procedures. Cuzalina LA, Rhyne CH
Open and Closed Liposuction. (2019) Integrated Procedures in Facial Cosmetic Surgery. Rhyne CH, Cuzalina LA
Evaluation of a Cosmetic Facial Surgery Patient. (2020) Cosmetic Surgery Surgical Procedure Manual. Rhyne CH, Cuzalina LA
Submental Liposuction. (2021) Office Based Facial Cosmetic Surgery. Rhyne CH, Webb LH
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Fellow, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Fellow, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jan. 21, 1998
Captain May 18, 2001
Major May 1, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel April 24, 2015
Colonel June 1, 2021
(Current as of September 2025)