Col Gigi A. Simko, FACHE, is the commander of the 45th Medical Group at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

She also serves on the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 48,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. With comprehensive programs in credentialing, education, career counseling, publications and research, ACHE works toward its goal of being the preeminent professional society for leaders dedicated to improving health.

Board certified in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow, she served as the ACHE Regent for the Air Force from 2016 to 2018, as an ACHE Regent-at-Large for District 6 from 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2014, and on several ACHE committees.

Col Simko has been in her current position since 2017. Prior to that, she served as chief, Health Benefits Division, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, from 2016 to 2017; commander, 60th Medical Support Squadron, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., from 2014 to 2016; and commander, 48th Medical Support Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, from 2011 to 2014. From 2007 to 2011, she was stationed at headquarters for the U.S. Air Force, Office of the Surgeon General, Arlington, Va., where she served as associate director, Medical Service Corps; senior analyst, Medical Personnel and Data Management Division; and chief, Patient Administration, Health Benefits Division. She also completed a fellowship in Medical Service Corps Force Structure Management. She has worked in five different major commands in various functional areas at the military treatment facility, wing and headquarters levels at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from 2004 to 2007; Dover Air Force Base, Del., from 2001 to 2004; Beale Air Force Base, Calif., from 1998 to 2001; and Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, from 1996 to 1998. She has deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as commander, 386th Expeditionary Medical Support Clinic, and administrator, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group.

In addition to her service to ACHE, Col Simko served a number of years as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc. in Ohio, Delaware and California.

She earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. She also completed Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officer School.