42nd Medical Group squadrons change leadership Published July 31, 2009 By Carl Poteat Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Two thirds of the 42nd Medical Group changed leadership recently as group commander Col. Diana Atwell passed squadron guidons to Lt. Col. (Dr.) Lynda K. Vu and Lt. Col. James W. Barber. Colonel Vu became commander of the 42nd Medical Operations Squadron and Colonel Barber assumed command of the 42nd Medical Support Squadron. Colonel Vu oversees the primary and specialty care clinics for more than 40,000 beneficiaries at Maxwell and Gunter. Her squadron flights include Family Practice, Medical Services and Mental Health. She is also responsible for more than 125,000 annual outpatient visits as well as interfacing with TRICARE and the Veteran's Administration. A 1988 graduate of Grace College with a major in biology, Colonel Vu obtained her medical doctorate degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1993. She received an Air Force commission in 1993. Colonel Vu comes to Maxwell from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, where she was the Chief of the Medical Staff from 2005 to 2007. For the past two years, she served as the Senior Validating Flight Surgeon at the Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center - Pacific regulating and developing policies for patient movement throughout the PACOM theater. As commander of the 42nd MDSS, Colonel Barber oversees support functions including logistics, TRICARE, pharmacy, laboratory, computer systems and administration. A 1992 Air Force Academy graduate, Colonel Barber also has a master's degree in business administration from St. Mary's University. He was previously assigned to Maxwell from 1999 to 2002 as the commander of the Business Operations and Beneficiary Support Flight in the 42nd Medical Group. Colonel Barber comes to Maxwell from Charles AFB, S.C. where he was the commander of the 437th Medical Support Squadron.