Contact Information
Bio
Lt Col Herrick is an instructor of biology and nutrition at the United States Air Force Academy. Her areas of interest include maternal and child health, health policy, public health epidemiology, and nutrition in performance optimization and prevention.
Lt Col Herrick was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from South Dakota State University in 2007 and a Master of Science degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences from South Dakota State University in 2009. She joined the Air Force as a first lieutenant in June 2009 where she subsequently completed a ten-month dietetic internship in October 2010. She completed her PhD in Nutrition at the University of Nebraska in 2024. Lt Col Minette Herrick is a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.
Prior to her current position Lt Col Herrick was the Chief, Human Performance, IOS at Air Force Medical Command, Falls Church VA. She served as the nutrition subject matter expert for the Surgeon General, Integrated Operational Support Team, and Air Force readiness. She led Air Force nutrition readiness policy and execution plans at the office of the Surgeon General where she advised on Congressional requests, White House interest items, Government Accountability Reports, and Air Force guidance and publications. She led the 265 nutrition professionals across the Department of the Air Force that care for warfighter readiness and health optimization and clinical and food service readiness and deployment operations.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Nutrition, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. (2024)
Air War College, Arizona State University, Ariz., by correspondence (2024)
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2017)
Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence (2013)
Biomedical Officer Management Orientation, San Antonio, Texas (2011)
USAF Dietetic Internship, San Antonio, Texas (2010)
Master of Science in Food and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. (2009)
Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. (2007)
Professional Experience
Dean of Faculty, Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado (June 2025 – Present)
Chief, Human Performance Integrated Operational Support, Air Force Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia (July 2024 – June 2025)
Air Force Institute of Technology Doctoral Candidate, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska (May 2021 – July 2024)
Nutritional Medicine Flight Commander, 48th Medical Support Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom (July 2018 – May 2021)
Chief, Health Promotion, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, JB San Antonio (Kelly), Texas (July 2016 – June 2018)
Chief, Clinical Dietetics, 673d Medical Support Squadron, JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (May 2013 – June 2016)
Clinical Dietitian, 59th Medical Wing, JB San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston), Texas (August 2011 – April 2013)
Chief, Outpatient Nutrition, 59th Medical Wing, JB San Antonio (Lackland), Texas (August 2010 – August 2011)
Dietetic Intern, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base (JB) San Antonio (Lackland), Texas (August 2009 – August 2010)
Honors & Awards
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters
Research and Scholarly Interests
Maternal and child health
Health policy
Public health epidemiology
Nutrition in performance optimization and prevention
Publications
Herrick, M., Kattelmann, K., Wey, H., White, A., Hoerr, S., Horacek, T., Lohse, B., Patterson, J., Phillips, B., Schoff, S., Boyle, C., & Greene, G. Association between participant baseline characteristics and time spent on WebHealth lessons. J Nutr Educ. & Behavior 2009; 41:S33-34.
Horacek, T.,White, A., Greene, G., Reznar, M., Quick, V., Morrell, J., Colby, S., Kattelmann, K., Herrick, M., Shelnutt, K., Mathews, A., Phillips, B., Byrd-Bredbenner, C. Sneakers and Spokes: An Assessment of the Walkability and Bikeability of U.S. Postsecondary Institutions. J of Environmental Hlth, 2012; 74(7):8-15
Herrick, M., McCormick, A., Thanapura, P., Gidvani-Diaz, V., Coello, M., Lougee, D., Amador, W., & Kemmer, T. Global positioning system mapping of growth status in Rural Honduran Children ages 6 to 60 months. Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 2013; 2(3);S055-063.
Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Pregnancy. https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/WH/up/VADoDPregnancyCPG4102018.pdf. Published March 2018. Accessed April 14, 2020.
Department of Defense. COVID-19 Practice Management Guide Version 6. https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/covid-19-clinical-operations-group. Published October 16, 2020. Accessed October 26, 2020.
Herrick M., Chai W. Increasing maternity leave and decreasing attrition rates of U.S. active duty women in the prenatal and immediate postpartum period. Military Medicine. 2023. https://academic.oup.com/milmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/milmed/usad146/7165292#google_vignette. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad146.
Herrick M., Chai W. Incidence of Postpartum Depression Decreases After Initial Expansion of Military Maternity Leave. Military Medicine. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37703065/ doi: 10.1093/milmed/usad354.
Herrick, M., Chai, W., Extending Air Force Physical Fitness Postpartum Dwell Time Improves Maternal Physical Readiness, Military Medicine, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad456