Michael Adams
Mike’s words to describe his time as a pilot are “Great career. Would do it again if possible.” Mike flew a number of planes including the T-28, T-33, B-26, F-86F, F-100D, and F-86L in a career spanning decades and resulting in his attaining the role of Deputy Surgeon General, USAF for ANG Affairs in 1991 at Bolling AFB.
Dr. Michael Adams is a retired internist, retired Major General in the Air National Guard/USAF and the Chairman of the Board at the Ansel Adams Galleries in Monterey and Yosemite. Dr. Adams is the son of the iconic photographer Ansel Adams.
When he’s not flying or skiing, he volunteers as an attending physician in the Adult Clinic at the University Medical Center in Fresno, CA. Dr. Adams received his M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and served at Andrews AFB. He completed his Primary Course in Aerospace Medicine at Brooks AFB in TX, and reported as Flight Surgeon with the 36th Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base in Germany.
He returned to his flight status as a Pilot/Physician combining flight medicine and his prior fighter pilot career by flying the F-4D as Aircraft Commander. Previously he had flown the F-86 Sabre and the F-100 Super Sabre.
After his tour of duty, Dr. Adams returned to his medical career in private practice and continued to serve in the California Air National Guard in Fresno as Flight Surgeon. He retired in 2000.
Units Assigned
- Pilot Training: Lackland AFB, Bainbridge AB, T-6G
- Williams AFB, T-28, T-33
- B-26 Transition, Vance AFB 1955
- Chitose Air Base, Japan, F-86F, T-33
- Cannon AFB, 312 FBW, 388 FBS, F-100D
- Calif Air Guard, Fresno, F-86L, T-33
- AFIT Senior Medical Student, 1966-67
- Andrews AFB, Medical Intern, 1967-68
- Brooks AFB, Primary Course Aerospace Medicine, 1968
- Bitburg Air Base, Flight Surgeon, Aircraft Commander F-4D, Pilot-
- Physician, Chief Flight Medicine, 1968-71
- Fresno Air Guard, Flight Surgeon, Clinic Commander, Pilot-Physician, 1971-88, T-33
- Offutt AFB, ANG Assistant Command Surgeon, 1988-91
- Bolling AFB, Deputy Surgeon General, USAF, for ANG Affairs, 1991-93
- Retired 1993
Awards & Decorations
Flight Info
Military & Civilian Education
- Stanford University, 1951-53
- Pilot Training, Class 55-K, 1955
- BA, Fresno State University, 1962
- MD, Washington Univ School of Medicine, St. Louis, 1967
- Primary Course Aerospace Medicine, 1968
