Dr. Thomas J. Burnett graduated cum laude from the University of Dayton in 2002 with a degree in pre-medicine. In 2007, he graduated from the University of Toledo College of Medicine after receiving the United States Air Force HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) scholarship. After completing his intern year of residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, he served 3 years as a flight surgeon for the 178th Fighter Wing and 445th Airlift Wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He was awarded the Commendation Medal in June 2011for his achievements while deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, where he served as a validating flight surgeon of Regional Command South.