RWBAHC welcomes new top doc to command

By Lisa TourtelotJuly 7, 2015

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Edgar Arroyo, the new commander of Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, accepts the
command colors from Maj. Gen. Thomas Tempel, the commanding general of Western Regional
Medical Command, at the change of command ceremony at Fort Huachuca, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Fort Huachuca, Arizona - Soldiers, family and friends gathered at Brown Parade Field at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., for the Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center change of command ceremony June 29, 2015. After two years, Col. Lance Raney relinquished his command to Lt. Col. Edgar Arroyo in an early morning ceremony on the storied parade field.

"There is not a single day over the past two years I wasn't excited to come to work," said Raney. "This is the best place in the Army because of the people who call Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca home."

Maj. Gen. Thomas Tempel, the commanding general of Western Region Medical Command, was on hand to participate in the ceremony and give his remarks.

"There is no more sacred honor given to an officer than that of command," said Tempel. "Lance is truly a visionary leader. He's a visionary thinker who pushes all to achieve their best, but he does it in a fun and competitive way."

During his 24-month tenure, Raney oversaw the implementation of numerous programs and policies that dramatically improved not only the quality of care offered by the health center, but also the quality of life for the Soldiers and staff who keep the health center running.

"Colonel Raney improved the health quality through organization-wide effort that focused on patient and staff safety," said Tempel. "He also championed a whole variety of initiatives, one of which was the implementation of a patient-centered medical home model here at Fort Huachuca and today the [medical treatment facility] boasts the best continuity and satisfaction [ratings] in the entire Western Region."

For his part, Arroyo is ready to take command and begin a new chapter for the health center.

"Wandaliza and I are excited to be part of this health team and the Fort Huachuca community," said Arroyo, who added that his wife, Wandaliza, had already braved two cross-country moves in just 11 months. "I see this command as a tremendous responsibility, but more importantly as a privilege and an opportunity to serve."

Arroyo came to Fort Huachuca following a tour at U.S. Central Command out of MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

"He steps into this command position with all the right skills," said Tempel. "I know that he will continue to raise the bar of excellence, while doing an equally great job of caring for the Soldiers, Retirees and Families of Fort Huachuca."

Raney will be continuing his work at the Defense Health Headquarters in Washington D.C. as their new Chief of Consultants, where Tempel is assured he will continue setting the example and leading the way for all of Army medicine.

Although the Health Center staff was sad to bid farewell, the day marks a new beginning and the continued opportunity for growth and even better patient-centered care.