The Air Force has charged an anesthesiologist at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, with drug distribution and aggravated assault.
Lt. Col. Martin Harssema intends to plead not guilty to the charges, his attorney, Terri Zimmerman, said Tuesday.
A court-martial is scheduled at the base for May 11, according to the Air Force's online judge advocate general docket.
In addition to distribution of schedule IV drugs, Harssema is charged with conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman and fraternization.
Schedule IV drugs are considered those with low potential for abuse and risk of dependence, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration's website.
An Air Force public affairs officer at Andrews confirmed the charges against Harssema, but refused to release the charging documents for the case. Air Force Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for Harssema's charging documents.
Harssema graduated from the anesthesiology residency program in 2009 at the University of Florida, the school's website states.
He has been an anesthesiologist with the Air Force since 2009, according to his LinkedIn profile. As recently as December, Harssema served as Critical Care Air Transport Team program director at Andrews.
Harssema joined the Air Force in 2000. He previously served as a flight surgeon at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and Osan Air Base, Korea, the Air Force said. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 2012.
"Lt. Col. Harssema has a long and impressive service record as a physician and an Air Force officer," Zimmerman said in an email. "He plans to plead not guilty to all charges."
