Kevin Heacock MD is a board-certified psychiatrist and flight surgeon based near Dayton, Ohio. He helps adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep problems, and performance issues with a practical, structured approach that aims to be both supportive and efficient. Many patients appreciate his ability to translate complex mental health topics into clear, actionable next steps.

Dr. Heacock has served as the Neuropsychiatry Branch Chief and Aerospace Medicine Branch Chief at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and is an Assistant Professor in Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine Psychiatry Residency Program. He earned his MD from Penn State College of Medicine (2005), completed an internal medicine internship at Lankenau Medical Center (2006), and trained in psychiatry at Wright State University (2013). His career has included leadership roles in aerospace psychiatry and operational medicine, including overseas service as a flight surgeon.

In addition to clinical work, Dr. Heacock has extensive experience in high-stakes evaluation and risk assessment. He has served as a consultant for NASA astronaut selection, performing psychiatric assessments of top astronaut applicants for the 2021 and 2025 Astronaut Candidate classes. He also presents nationally and internationally on aviation mental health and return-to-flying decision-making after psychiatric illness.

If you’re looking for a psychiatrist who is calm, thorough, and direct, Dr. Heacock is known for a collaborative style that respects your time and your goals. He also publishes The Flight Shrink, a Substack newsletter and podcast focused on practical mental health education, especially for high-performing professionals, pilots, and people in safety-sensitive careers.

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology