Professor and Chair
Dr. Melissa Wilson is a Civilian Executive Officer and a Nurse Scientist for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. She joined the civilian force eight years ago because of her love of country that was inspired by her father’s 20-year service in the US Navy. She graduated with a Bachelors of Nursing in 1997, Masters of Nursing in 2010 and a PhD from the University of Missouri in 2016. Dr. Wilson is a board-certified Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN), specializing as a certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS) and a certified health ethicist. Recently, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) which has been awarded to less than 1% of nurses and recognizes her as a national leader to advance health policy, practice and science in nursing.
Garnering $2.8 million dollars of funding from the Department of Defense (DoD), Dr. Wilson is currently leading research in resiliency interventions in military healthcare practitioners. Her research experience spans a vast array of topics to address DoD questions with science such as in acute pain management, the use of health technologies in aeromedical transport and the role of APRN’s in military healthcare. She was recently awarded a US Patent for a healthcare technology for use in military healthcare systems.
She previously served as an appointed member to the American Nurses Association’s Moral Resiliency Steering Committee with a ‘Call to Action’ report as the result and as an Advisory Committee member for Nursing’s Code of Ethics which resulted in the newest version of the revised ‘Code of Ethics for Nurses’ in 2015. Prior to her current role in AFRL, she comes from an academic institution where she was the Associate Director of the undergraduate nursing program and an Assistant Professor. Before this, she had various healthcare experiences including critical care, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and medical surgical nursing for 17 years. She was also a co-owner of a small construction business with her husband for over 20 years. She is passionate about service to her local community and often can be found volunteering through her church and with local agencies working with those recovering from substance addiction and children impacted by addiction. She and her husband of 27 years are also biological and foster parents to five children ranging from adolescents to teenagers.
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About Melissa Wilson
Dr. Melissa Wilson is a Civilian Executive Officer and a Nurse Scientist for the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. She joined the civilian force eight years ago because of her love of country that was inspired by her father’s 20-year service in the US Navy. She graduated with a Bachelors of Nursing in 1997, Masters of Nursing in 2010 and a PhD from the University of Missouri in 2016. Dr. Wilson is a board-certified Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN), specializing as a certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS) and a certified health ethicist. Recently, she was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) which has been awarded to less than 1% of nurses and recognizes her as a national leader to advance health policy, practice and science in nursing.
Garnering $2.8 million dollars of funding from the Department of Defense (DoD), Dr. Wilson is currently leading research in resiliency interventions in military healthcare practitioners. Her research experience spans a vast array of topics to address DoD questions with science such as in acute pain management, the use of health technologies in aeromedical transport and the role of APRN’s in military healthcare. She was recently awarded a US Patent for a healthcare technology for use in military healthcare systems.
She previously served as an appointed member to the American Nurses Association’s Moral Resiliency Steering Committee with a ‘Call to Action’ report as the result and as an Advisory Committee member for Nursing’s Code of Ethics which resulted in the newest version of the revised ‘Code of Ethics for Nurses’ in 2015. Prior to her current role in AFRL, she comes from an academic institution where she was the Associate Director of the undergraduate nursing program and an Assistant Professor. Before this, she had various healthcare experiences including critical care, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and medical surgical nursing for 17 years. She was also a co-owner of a small construction business with her husband for over 20 years. She is passionate about service to her local community and often can be found volunteering through her church and with local agencies working with those recovering from substance addiction and children impacted by addiction. She and her husband of 27 years are also biological and foster parents to five children ranging from adolescents to teenagers.
| February 2023 - Present | Professor and Chair, Wright State University ‐ Nursing | |
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| November 2017 - September 2021 | General Health Scientist/Team Lead (DR-II), Air Force Research Laboratory ‐ Medical Biosciences Division | |
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| December 2014 - November 2017 | Nurse Scientist Contractor, USAF School of Aerospace Medicine ‐ Department of Aeromedical Research | |
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| March 2007 - May 2015 | Associate Director and Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati ‐ College of Nursing | |
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| December 2010 - November 2012 | Advanced Practice Nurse, Trihealth | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Professional Service and Affiliations
| 2022 - Present | Member, American Academy of Nursing | 2020 - Present | Member, National Association Clinical Nurse | 2013 - Present | Specialist, American Nurses Association | 2009 - Present | Member, American Association Critical Care Nurses | 2009 - Present | Member, Sigma Theta Tau Beta Iota Chapter | 2011 - 2023 | Board Certified Advanced Practice Nurse, APRN.CNS.12910 Critical CAre Clinical Nurse Specialist; National Certification #20002235438 | 1997 - 2023 | Registered Nurse, Ohio RN.274894 |
Honors and Awards
- 2022 Ocotober American Academy of Nursing Fellow Award and Induciton (FAAN)
- 2021 September Air Force Research Laboratory Inspire Speaker. Ted-X style USAF event
- 2020 711th Human Performance Wing Top 10 Publications for 2020
- 2019 Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA)-711th HPW, Wright Patterson AFB-AFRL
- 2019 Air Force Medical Service Award Biomedical Sciences Corps Team Award
- 2019 Department of the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal
- 2019 Featured Scientist in article in University of Missouri Alumni Magazine
- 2019 Publication “Investigation of Stethoscope Technology for En Route Care” recognized by 711th Human Performance Wing’s Chief Scientist as one of the most important publications released in 2018 from FH division
- 2018 United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine 4th quarter Collaboration Team Award En Route Care Research
- 2018 711th HPW Commander’s Newsflash Invention Disclosure announcements
- 2017 Midwest Nursing Society Student Dissertation of the Year
- 2017 Air Force Laboratory Commander’s Cup Team Award
- 2016 Air Force Laboratory Commander’s Cup Team Award
- 2016 Recognized as Apple® Distinguished Academic Program 2014-2016 for creative leveraging of technology in teaching and learning.
| July 2016 | Ph.D, Nursing, University of Missouri ‐ Nursing | |
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| May 2015 | Certificate in Health Ethics, University of Missouri | |
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| December 2010 | Master of Science in Nursing / Clinical Nurse Specialist, University of Cincinnati ‐ College of Nursing | |
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| June 1997 | Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Cincinnati ‐ College of Nursing | |
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