Lt. Col. Sara V. Turinsky, Deputy Director, Organization and Personnel Force Development
Lt. Col. Sara V. Turinsky, from Marshall, Missouri, commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate into the Medical Service Corps in December 2005 from the University of Central Missouri, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and Spanish. During Officer Basic Course she learned of the opportunity to apply for a flight selection panel enabling a transition to 67J, Aeromedical Evacuation Officer. Upon completion of Medical Service Corps Officer Basic Course, still pending results of the flight selection panel, 2nd Lt. Turinsky was assigned as the Executive Officer of Echo Company, 302d Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, then subsequently assigned as a Ground Evacuation Medical Platoon Leader in Charlie Company, also within the 302d Brigade Support Battalion. During her assignment in Korea, 2nd Lt. Turinsky was selected by the flight selection panel, which resulted in her follow-on assignment to Fort Novosel, Alabama, where she would attend Aviation Officer Basic Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing training, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training from 2007-2008. Upon completion of flight school and getting rated as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot, 1st Lt. Turinsky was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Cavazos, Texas. There, she served as Section Leader and Platoon leader for 4th Forward Support Medical Platoon in Charlie Company, 2-227th General Support Aviation Battalion where her MEDEVAC Platoon served in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Following AMEDD Captain’s Career Course, Capt. Turinsky returned to Fort Cavazos to serve as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade. Following her Company Command time, Capt. Turinsky attended Troy University, receiving a Master of Science in International Relations. Upon degree completion, Maj. Turinsky was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas. There, she served as the Aviation Brigade Medical Planner, G3 Air Plans Officer, 127th Aviation Support Battalion Executive Officer, and Division Medical Planner. Prior to her selection to serve as the OPFD Deputy Director, Lt. Col. Turinsky served as the Army Capability Manager-Lift Utility Division Chief upon re-assignment to Fort Novosel in 2021.
Her awards and decoration include the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Numeral 2, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Bronze Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Bronze Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3, NATO Medal, and Army Aviator Badge.