John C. Shumate (1918–1992) was an Army Medical Services Corps pharmacist who transferred to the United States Air Force and joined the fledgling Air Rescue Services, becoming commandant of the Pararescue and Survival School at MacDill AFB, Florida in 1949. He was an early hero of the new Air Force Pararescue community, earning a Silver Star in the Korean War. Captain Shumate was also awarded the British Military Cross for his actions. He retired from the Air Force as a full colonel in 1969.