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Biography
Dr. Steven R. Sem is Executive Director of the Armed Forces Optometric Association. The association represents
all optometrists working in the federal sector, including the Air Force, Army, Navy, Department of Veterans Affairs,
Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, Civil Service , the Reserves and National Guard. He is responsible
for effective communication and continuing education for the over 900 members throughout the world. He is also
responsible for maintaining effective relations with other national and international health care organizations,
the Department of Defense and Congress regarding health care issues.
Dr. Sem is a 1969 graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. He received his Doctor of Optometry Degree from
Pacific University in 1973. Dr. Sem is a nationally recognized clinician in optometry. He was appointed chief consultant
to the Air Force Surgeon General. He served as Chief, Professional Services, Army and Air Force Exchange Service;
Program Manager, Health Personnel Policy and Plans, Office of the Surgeon General; Commander, Air Force Element,
Department of Defense Medical Support; Commander, 62nd Medical Group, McChord Air Force Base (AFB) WA; and Commander,
28th Medical Group, Ellsworth AFB, SD. He has been published in Optometry Weekly, Journal of the American Optometric
Association, delivered key speeches at the national convention of Association of Military Surgeons of the United
States, and field/flight tested proposed flight glasses and helmets for the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.
He has also served as military assistant to the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee for the 1989 Presidential Inauguration.
He is a frequent speaker on leadership and command at the Air University Center for Professional Development, Maxwell
Air Force Base, Alabama.
Dr. Sem and his wife, Christine, have two children, Dustin and Meagan.
EDUCATION
1969 Bachelor of Science Degree, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota
1973 Doctor of Optometry, Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon
1981 Squadron Officer School (correspondence)
1982 Air Command and Staff College (seminar)
1983 Concentrated Ocular Therapy, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1985 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
1988 Air War College (correspondence)
1991 Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, Washington, DC
1993 Mission Support Squadron Commander's Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
1994 Program for Executives in Managed Care, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
1994 Senior Executive Management Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
1996 Group Commanders Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
POSITIONS HELD
1. June 1975 - May 1977, Chief, Eye Clinic, USAF Hospital, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
2. December 1978 - June 1984, Chief, Eye Clinic, USAF Hospital, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana
3. July 1984 - January 1985, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk Virginia
4. February 1985 - November 1987, Chief, Professional Services, Army and Air Force Exchange
Services, Dallas, Texas
5. November 1987 - June 1988, Fellow, Center for Health Care Innovation, Brooks Air Force Base,
Texas
6. July 1988 - July 1992, Program Manager, Health Personnel Policy and Plans, Office of the Surgeon
General, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, DC
7. July 1992 - October 1994, Commander, Air Force Element, Department of Defense Medical Support,
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
8. October 1994 - July 1996, Commander, 62nd Medical Group, McChord Air Force Base, Washington
9. August 1996 - June 1999, Commander, 28th Medical Group, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
10. October 1999 - present, Executive Director, Armed Forces Optometric Association
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Air Force Optometrist of the Year, Colonel Floyd M. Morris Award
Armed Forces Optometrist of the Year
Orion Award, Armed Forces Optometric Society
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Fellow, American Academy of Optometry
Diplomate, National Board of Examiners of Optometry
Member, Armed Forces Optometric Society
Member, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States
Member, American Optometric Association
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1976 Field/flight tested proposed flight glasses and helmets for Air Force School of Aerospace
Medicine in Tactical Air Command's Air Combat Evaluation Program
1976 Article, "Retinal Hemorrhage," published in Optometry Weekly, Nov. 11, 1976
1988 Speech to Air Force Optometry Seminar, "Optometry Readiness, also 19854, 1986, and 1987
1988 Speech at national convention, American Military Surgeons of the United States, "The Role of
an Optometrist in a Contingency Operation."
1991 Appointed Chief Consultant to the Surgeon General
1994 Guest Editorial, "Air Force Optometry - An Overview", Journal of the American Optometric
Association, April 1995
1994 First Air Force Medical Service officer "frocked" to the grade of Colonel, Oct 31, 1994
1995 Speech to Armed Forces Optometric Society, "Command and Leadership"
1995 Consultant to Chapman University in development of Masters Program in Organizational Leadership
1998 Speech to new Air Force group commanders, "Provider Staff Leadership and Management", College for
Professional Development, Air University, March 11, 1998
1999 Group Commander's Course, "TRICARE and Pitfalls of Group Command", College for Professional Development,
Air University, May 4-7, 1999
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