| Paul K. Carlton Jr. | |
| Birth Date: | 13 May 1947 |
| Birth Place: | Roswell, New Mexico |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears: | 1969–2002 |
| Rank: | Lieutenant General |
| Commands: | Surgeon General of the Air Force |
| Awards: | Distinguished Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Airman's Medal Air Medal |
| Relations: | General Paul K. Carlton (father) |
Lieutenant General (Dr.) Paul Kendall Carlton Jr. (born May 13, 1947)[1] was the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.
General Carlton was commissioned after being honored a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1969. He is a fellow and former Air Force governor of the American College of Surgeons. He was named a consultant in general surgery to the Air Force surgeon general in 1981. He conceptualized and implemented the first Air Force rapid-response surgical team in Europe—the flying ambulance surgical trauma team. He remains an active surgeon having performed more than 4,000 operations as principal surgeon and 6,000 as first assistant. He has published extensively in medical literature.
An active flier, General Carlton holds Federal Aviation Administration commercial, instrument, multi-engine, glider and instructor ratings. During Operation Desert Storm, he commanded the 1702nd Air Refueling Wing Contingency Hospital, completing 32 combat support missions and 140 combat flying hours in the C-21, C-130, KC-10 and KC-135. He retired from the Air Force December 1, 2002.[2]
After retiring from the Air Force, General Carlton was named Director of the Homeland Security Initiative for the Texas A&M Health Science Center to address homeland security issues related to human health.[3]
General Carlton is the managing member of PK Concepts, LLC.[4]
Citation:
Lieutenant General Paul K. Carlton, Jr. distinguished himself by heroism involving voluntary risk of life at the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia on 11 September 2001. On that date, an American Airlines 757 with 67 passengers originating at Dulles Airport crashed into the Pentagon near the heliport. The approximate number of casualties at point of impact was 190. General Carlton was in the Pentagon at the time of the crash. Knowing that there would be numerous casualties, he proceeded to Corridor 4, C ring. General Carlton entered a room filled with chest high debris. Although half the room was engulfed in flames and smoke filled, General Carlton and several other rescuers located a trapped victim who was stuck under some fallen debris. The men could see the trapped victim but could not quite reach the man. One of the rescuers cleared the debris while General Carlton tried to pull the victim free. He then placed a water-soaked tee shirt on the victim's face to aid his breathing. The victim was roused, and realizing the imminent danger they were all facing, rolled to his left far enough for General Carlton to grab him. They were then able to move the victim to safety. All the while, the room continued to rain fire and debris on General Carlton and the others. As the fire intensified and moved closer in the room, General Carlton continued to sweep the room for other victims. There was a loud noise; the flaming ceiling began to fall and one of the rescuers shouted for all to leave the area. As the metal caging in the ceiling gave way, General Carlton helped the others to escape the burning room. The exemplary courage and heroism displayed by General Carlton reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Lt Gen Carlton has been awarded the following:[6]
| Second Lieutenant | June 4, 1969 | ||
| First Lieutenant | December 4, 1970 | ||
| Captain | June 4, 1972 | ||
| Major | June 4, 1975 | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel | June 4, 1980 | ||
| Colonel | October 1, 1985 | ||
| Brigadier General | October 1, 1991 | ||
| Major General | May 25, 1995 | ||
| Lieutenant General | December 1, 1999 |