Col. Thomas J. Tredici was born on August 27, 1922, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1942 at age 19 and was selected for pilot training. He piloted a B-17 Superfortress Bomber and its crew of 10 for the 8th Army Air Force (457th BG 8th AF) out of Gatton, England, in support of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II. 

After World War II, Tredici received his college degree, Magna Cum Laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Washington and Jefferson University in 1949. He received his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952 and then returned to active duty to serve in the Korea Conflict as a USAF Medical Officer (1952-53). He then completed his Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Pittsburgh in 1956, followed by active duty at Scott AFB, Illinois, and Clark AFB, Philippines, as Chief of Ophthalmology. After a Fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology (1962-64) at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was assigned to the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, Texas, as a staff ophthalmologist and researcher. He additionally received training as a Flight Surgeon. In 1965 he served as an eye surgeon in the Vietnam War (1965-66).  

Upon his return from the Vietnam War, he became Chief of the Aerospace Ophthalmology Branch at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas, from 1966-87. In 1987, Col. Tredici retired at age 65 from the military after two recalls to active duty by the Secretary of the Air Force, with 39 years of active military service. At the time of his retirement, Col. Tredici had the distinction of being the last USAF pilot still on active duty to have flown during WWII. 

Following his retirement, Col. Tredici continued his work as a Senior Scientist, Principal Lecturer, and Clinical Function Chief of the Aerospace Ophthalmology Branch at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine while in the Civil Service until 2011, having served the USAF for 70 years. 

He continued his position as Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He continued working as a USAF Emeritus Scientist and Consultant until his passing on April 28, 2021.  

His understanding of Air Force operations provided a firm foundation for his career as an Aerospace Ophthalmologist and allowed him to apply ophthalmic science to military needs. Dr. Tredici's Curriculum Vitae listed hundreds of published research papers and 286 different presentations among his contributions to the Ophthalmology Branch USAF School of Aerospace Medicine in Vision Science and National Defense. Among his numerous accolades, Dr. Tredici was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement award by the Department of Ophthalmology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2015.  Dr. Tredici is regarded as one of the most influential Ophthalmologists in Aerospace Medicine in this century. 

The Thomas J. Tredici, MD, USAF, Medical Corp (Retired) Endowment for Resident Education is a permanent endowment and shall be used for the benefit of the Long School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology resident program.  Funds distributed from the endowment shall be used to provide financial support for resident education.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Philip Garza, Senior Director of Development, at (210) 567-2598.