Colonel Yancy S. Short is currently assigned to the Headquarters West Virginia Air National Guard, located at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, West Virginia. Short serves at the West Virginia State Air Surgeon (SAS). As the SAS, he enhances the ability of the Air National Guard(ANG) to properly perform its state and federal missions as the primary liaison between Guard Medical Units, the Adjutant General (TAG) and the Air National Guard Surgeon General (NGB/SG). Colonel Short helps to ensure that the State maintains a viable and healthy force for worldwide deployment. He coordinates with the State’s Army National Guard Surgeon as well as other ANG SASs within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) region to identify military medical capabilities. As the SAS he also coordinates appropriate use of medical assets mobilized for state or national emergencies and exercises staff oversight of ANG medical activities.
Short entered military service in April 2010, serving as a General Surgeon for the 130th Airlift Wing. In 2012, he attended flight school and became a Flight Surgeon. Short has deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel. He also served on state orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has served in multiple leadership rolls including Chief of Medical Staff (SGH), Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP), and Commander of the Medical Group, 130th Airlift Wing. His civilian background includes more than 30 years of medical and business experience as a general surgeon who specializes in robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery and breast cancer surgery.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry, West Virginia University
1990 Doctor of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine
1995 Post Graduate Residency, General Surgery, Charleston Area Medical Center
2000 Master Level Business Administration Courses, Marshall University
2010 Reserve Officer Training School
2011 Expeditionary Medical Support Training (EMEDS) Combat Training Readiness Center Alpena, MI
2011 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Aerospace Medicine Primary School, Wright- Patterson AFB
2013 Water Survival School (SERE), Commanding Officer NAS Pensacola
2013 Evasion and Conduct After Capture Training (ECAC) Lackland AFB San Antonio, TX
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2010 – December 2012, Chief of Medical Staff (SGH), 130th Medical Group, Charleston, WV
2. January 2013 - October 2018, Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP), 130th Medical Group, Charleston, WV
3. December 2014– March 2015, Flight Surgeon, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
4. October 2018 – February 2019, Interim Commander, 130th Medical Group, Charleston, WV
5. February 2019 – June 2025, Commander, 130th Medical Group, Charleston, WV
6. July 2025 - Present, Air Surgeon, West Virginia Air National Guard, Charleston, W.V.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 ‘M’ Device
Air and Space Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
District of Columbia National Guard Achievement Medal
District of Columbia Presidential Inauguration Support Ribbon
West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award
West Virginia National Guard Minuteman Ribbon with 1 Device
West Virginia Guard Special Assignment Ribbon
West Virginia State Service Ribbon with 1 Device
West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon with 1 Device
West Virginia Achievement Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Fellowship of American College of Surgeons
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Major 11 APR 2010
Lieutenant Colonel 2 OCT 2011
Colonel 26 APR 2018
(Current as of August 2025)