Tom McNish

Tom McNish, MD, COL (ret) USAF, passed away at home Friday, July 19, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief and complicated illness. He was born in Madison, Tennessee, in 1942 to Mary Elenora and Edgar McNish and was a 1964 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Tom was a Vietnam War veteran who flew 45 combat missions in the F-105. Shot down in 1966, he was captured and spent 2,373 days as a POW in North Vietnam. While a prisoner, he decided to study medicine when he returned home. Upon his release in 1973, he attended Emory University School of Medicine, graduating in 1978 and completed residencies in both Family Practice and Aerospace Medicine.
Dr. McNish spent the remainder of his distinguished military career as one of a select few Pilot Physicians (practicing flight surgeons and combat ready fighter pilots) in the Air Force, flying T-38s and A-10s. Advancing to the rank of colonel, he served as Hospital Commander at Myrtle Beach AFB and Holloman AFB. He proudly led the mission to Iraq at the end of Desert Storm in 1991 to medically evaluate and repatriate our returning POWs. Col. McNish ended his military career as Command Flight Surgeon for the AF Reserve in the Surgeon General's office at the Pentagon.
After his 30-year Air Force career, he joined Biodynamic Research Corporation (BRC) in San Antonio, Texas, as a consultant and partner, where he utilized his vast engineering and medical background. While at BRC he worked on many high-profile accident investigations including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, the Sept. 11 crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, and the Daytona 500 crash that took the life of Dale Earnhardt.
Those who knew him will remember his wit, patience, diplomacy, judgment, character and his careful analysis and synthesis of any problem. His dedication to duty was legendary and he never failed to make any situation he was involved in better after his contribution. He was a wise and gentle man and a consensus builder. Tom was a wonderful combination of warrior and diplomat who loved his country unconditionally.
Col. McNish was awarded three silver stars, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars with the "V" device, two Purple Hearts, five Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Tom loved his family more than anything and is survived by his cherished wife Yona; their children, Lori (Wes), Amy (Tim) and Tommy (Jessi); nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Burial services will take place at his childhood home in Macon County. A celebration of life will be held in San Antonio at a yet-to-be-determined date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests tributes be made in the form of contributions to the Mary E. McNish Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Fund at Emory University. Donations can be made out to Emory University with "Mary McNish Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Fund" in the memo and mailed to: Office of Gift Accounting, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 2400, Atlanta, GA 30322 or visit https://together.emory.edu/McNish to make an online donation.