Biography

Lt Col Sarah Handegard initially enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1996 as a combat medic.  She later transferred to the North Dakota Air National Guard as a medical tech. In September 2003 she entered IPAP and upon graduation transferred to the Virginia Air National Guard.  In her civilian career She has practiced as an emergency medicine PA since 2006, working in small community hospitals and a level II trauma center.

Lt Col Handegard participated in Operation CORONET NIGHTHAWK (Curacao, Netherlands Antilles), MEDLITE medical training exercise (Tunisia, Africa), Operation NOBLE EAGLE (United States), and Joint Task Force Camp Grafton humanitarian project supporting Operation WALKING SHIELD (United States). After joining the 203rd RHS she deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, and Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL. As part of the State Partnership Program, she traveled to Tajikistan where she taught medical skills to the Tajikistan military. She also deployed in support of the joint humanitarian mission BEYOND THE HORIZON (El Salvador). Lt Col Handegard has provided medical backfill through MPA tours supporting the 52nd MDG Spangdahlem AFB, Germany; 36th MDG Anderson AFB, Guam; 633rd MDG Langley AFB, Virginia; and 51st MDG Osan AFB, South Korea. During the early stages of the COVID pandemic, she provided support to domestic COVID response operations as the Senior Joint Medical Planner, Joint Medical Advisory Cell, Virginia ANG.