Black History Month Spotlight: Dr. (Col.) Wenzell E. Carter, Jr.

  • Published
  • By Capt. Anthony L. Bucci
  • 174th Fighter Wing
Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, NY --  Dr. (Col.) Wenzell E. Carter, Jr. has been the Commander of the 174th Fighter Wing Medical Group since 2007. He attended Northwestern High School, Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated in 1971. He continued his education by attending Morgan State University earning his degree in 1975 and then moving on to the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery graduating in 1980.

"Just being a member of a great team here. For everyone that grew up during the civil rights era, our hope was to see the fulfillment of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream: that we are judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character. I have certainly found that to be the case in the 174th Fighter Wing", said Carter.

Dr. Carter grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and currently resides in Deerfield, New York where he serves as the Facility Dental Director, Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy. Dr. Carter has been at CNYPC since 2007 and is directly responsible for the dental care of approximately 400 psychiatric patients. Prior to working at CNYPC he was the Dental Director at Oneida Correctional Facility responsible for the dental care of more than 1,200 inmates.

Dr. Carter served on active duty for five years in the U. S. Air Force separating in 1986. Following a short break in service he was commissioned in the U. S. Army Reserve at Fort Hamilton, in Brooklyn, eventually joining the 174th Fighter Wing in 1992.

"Personally it has been the honor for me to be selected as the Medical Group Commander. Of course, the greatest milestone is seeing Gen. Colin Powell selected to serve as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then as Secretary of State", said Carter.

Dr. Carter said his biggest challenges are very similar to other guardsman, balancing his military career with his civilian career, and his family life. In his spare time Dr. Carter is an amateur photographer who also loves to cook, he hopes to spend more time developing these hobbies in retirement preferably in a warmer climate.