Col W. Gunnar Conrow is the Commander/MTF Director, 319th Medical Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota and responsible for daily outpatient clinic operations, ambulance services, force health protection, and medical readiness for all base supported personnel. Col Conrow leads 120 medics serving 4.7 thousand enrollees with an operating budget of $6 million. The group supports units operating the Global Hawk, maintaining the High Frequency Global Communications System, and several geographically separated units in the two-state, one-province region.
Col Conrow entered the Air Force as a Medical Laboratory Specialist in August of 1988. He received his commission as Biomedical Scientist Officer in May of 2001. Prior to his current command/directorship, he was the Director of the Center for Laboratory Medicine Services at the Defense Health Agency. Before CLMS he commanded the 17th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas and served as the Director, Medical Group Commander Course, Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development, Commanders’ Professional Development School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Col Conrow was responsible for all pre-command training courses for selected medical group commanders. He also organized and executed operations for all wing, vice wing, non-medical group commanders, and spouses pre-command training courses. Col Conrow is a Medical Laboratory Scientist with over 38 years of active service. He is married to RaNaye Conrow of Ainsworth, NE and he has two children Morgan Conrow of Fort Watertown, NY and Wyatt Conrow of Deerwood, MN.
EDUCATION
1987 Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes NTC, IL
1990 Medical Laboratory Specialist, Sheppard AFB, TX
1992 Airman Leadership School
1996 Bachelors of Science, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2006 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2007 Master of Science, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
2014 Master of Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2022 Masters of Science, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1985-1988 Hospital Corpsman, Naval Reserve Center, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
2. 1988-1990 Student, Shepherd AFB, TX/Andrews AFB, MD
3. 1990-1992 Medical Lab Specialist, Travis AFB, CA
4. 1992-1996 Chemistry/Hematology Supervisor, 354th Medical Group, Eielson AFB, AK
5. 1996-1998 NCOIC Lab Services, 61st Medical Squadron. Los Angeles AFB, CA
6. 1998-2001 NCOIC Lab Services, 28th Medical Group, Ellsworth AFB, SD
7. 2001-2004 Laboratory Element Chief, 319th Medical Group, Grand Forks AFB, ND
8. 2004-2008 Laboratory Flight Commander, 366th Medical Group, Mountain Home AFB, ID
9. 2008-2013 Diagnostics and Therapeutics Flight Commander, 354th Medical Group, Eielson AFB, AK
10. 2013-2014 Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
11. 2014-2018 Deputy Director, Center for Laboratory Medicine, DHA, Falls Church, VA
12. 2018-2020 Commander, 17th Healthcare Operations Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX
13. 2020-2021 Director, Medical Group Commanders’ Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
14. 2021-2022 Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
15. 2022-2026 Director/Chief of Laboratory Operations, Center for Laboratory Medicine Services, DHA, Falls Church, VA
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2022-2026 Director, Center for Laboratory Medicine Services, DHA, Falls Church, VA
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Award with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Medal with one bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 21, 2001
First Lieutenant June 21, 2003
Captain June 21, 2005
Major February 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2017
Colonel March 1, 2025
(Current as of July 2026)