Colonel Suzana M. Gjekaj has made history as the first Albanian-American Colonel in the U.S. Air Force! She currently serves as the Chief of Pediatric Dentistry at the 86th Dental Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany—one of the largest dental facilities in the Air Force.

Col. Gjekaj commissioned into the Air Force in December 2003 after earning the prestigious Health Professions Scholarship. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2007 with dual degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Doctorate in Dental Surgery. Her career has taken her to several key locations, including Holloman AFB (New Mexico), Osan AB (South Korea), Aviano AB (Italy), and Kadena AB (Japan), where she served in leadership roles in pediatric dentistry.

She later commanded the Dental Support Flight at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and was selected for the elite Air Force Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program, earning her board certification. Col. Gjekaj has also contributed to training future Air Force dentists and currently leads vital dental operations in Europe and Africa.