The 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) conducts a change of command ceremony

By Spc. Lauren ColeJuly 11, 2015

The 18th MEDCOM (DS) color cuard formed and ready
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) color guard stands ready to begin the change of command ceremony with Command Sgt. Major Thomas Wrighton (rear), Command Sgt. Major, 18th MEDCOM (DS) providing the direction and leaders... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
The 18th MEDCOM (DS) stands ready for their change of command
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The key participants for the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) change of command ceremony, Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent (center), Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), Col. Ann Sammartino (left), incomi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
The "Pacific Knights" begin their change of command
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The "Pacific Knights", Soldiers of the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) render honors to begin the change of command ceremony, held at Fort Shafter, Hawaii on July 10, 2014, which saw Col. Bret Ackermann, outgoing Commande... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
18th MEDCOM (DS) change of command
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent (center), Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), Col. Bret Ackermann (left), outgoing Commander, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)), and Col. Ann Sammartino (right), incoming ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
RHC-P CG and 18th MEDCOM commanders stand ready to pass the colors
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent (center), Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), Col. Bret Ackermann (right), outgoing Commander, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)), and Col. Ann Sammartino (left), incoming ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Command Sgt. Major Wrighton passes Col. Ackermann the colors
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Command Sgt. Major Thomas Wrighton (right), Command Sgt. Major, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) passes the unit's colors to the outgoing 18th MEDCOM (DS) Commander, Col. Bret Ackermann (left) to begin the traditional pass... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Col. Ackermann passes the 18th MEDCOM colors to Brig. Gen. Sargent
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Bret Ackermann (center), outgoing Commander, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)), passes the colors to Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent (left), Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), symbolizing the relin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brig. Gen. Sargent passes the 18th MEDCOM (DS) colors to Col. Sammartino
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent (right), Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Pacific (RHC-P), passes the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) colors to Col. Ann Sammartino (left), Commander, 18th MEDCOM (DS), during the cha... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
The change of command is completed with the passing of the colors
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The colors are returned to Command Sgt. Major Thomas Wrighton, Command Sgt. Major, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) during the change of command ceremony held at Fort Shafter, Hawaii on July 10, 2014. It is the Command Sg... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SHAFTER, HAWAII - The 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) (18th MEDCOM (DS)) held their change of command ceremony, here, at historic Palm Circle, on July 10, 2015.

In what was a morning filled with rain showers, it too was filled with sorrow and happiness as Col. Bret Ackermann, outgoing Commander, relinquished Command of the 18th MEDCOM (DS) to Col. Ann Sammartino, the incoming Commander.

Ackermann will be staying on Oahu, moving over to assume duties as the Deputy Surgeon General for the Pacific Command (PACOM) after successfully fulfilling his duties as the Pacific Knights' Commander.

During Ackermann's time with the 18th MEDCOM (DS), he led his Command in support multiple exercises and operations throughout the Asia-Pacific area of responsibility; providing mission command, administrative assistance and technical supervision of assigned and attached medical units throughout the region.

Ackermann masterfully managed the 18th MEDCOM (DS), which was charged with supporting the shared lines of effort of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the Regional Health Command - Pacific (RHC-P).

The Host Commander for the Change of Command Ceremony was Brig. Gen. Patrick Sargent, Commanding General, Regional Health Command - Pacific (RHC-P).

"As the operational arm of the newly establish Regional Health Command - Pacific, I can assure you that the 18th MEDCOM has played a pivotal role in providing precise synchronized healthcare support, which has yielded tremendous successes in support of the PACOM and USARPAC leaders' campaign plans," said Sargent.

Sargent went on to express his gratitude for the two years of loyal service which Ackermann gave to the 18th MEDCOM (DS), USARPAC and RHC-P; Sargent then went on to graciously welcome Sammartino into the Pacific's Army Medicine Ohana.

During his address, Ackermann was thankful for the loyalty and dedicated service of the Soldiers, Noncommissioned Officers and Officers during his time with the 18th MEDCOM (DS); and he went on to thank his peers throughout the Military Medical community.

"To my brother and sister commanders here in the Pacific, both among USARPAC and RHC-P teams, thank you for your personal friendship and mentorship as well as the professional collaboration your staffs have had with ours." said Ackermann, "Every day these relationships get stronger and stronger; therefore USARPAC and RHC-P get stronger and stronger. Within both USARPAC and RHC-P, "One Team" is not simply a cool bumper sticker phrase, it is literally a way of life here."

Sammartino too thanked the Soldiers; she thanked them for the opportunity to serve as their Commander and for the promise of things to come for the 18th MEDCOM (DS).

"I hope to shape and set the conditions for the 18th Medical Command and its Soldiers for success," said Sammartino, "To the staff and the Soldiers of the 18th Medical Command you're outstanding, I'm here to serve you and lead you."

Sammartino's most recent, previous, assignment was as the Commander of the 30th Medical Command (DS), Sembach, Germany and 212th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), Miesau, Germany.