Army Names New Walter Reed Commanding General

By Mr. Paul Boyce (FORSCOM)March 2, 2007

The U.S. Army announced today, March 2, that Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker will become the commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Schoomaker currently is the commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md.

Schoomaker was selected for this important leadership position because of his considerable command experience at every level of the U.S. Army's medical profession. Prior to his Fort Detrick duties, Schoomaker was commander of Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colo., from June 1997 to May 1999; commander of the 30th Medical Brigade and Corps Surgeon for V Corps in Germany - the largest combat-support hospital in Europe - from April 2001 to June 2002; and commanding general of Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center/Southeast Regional Medical Command at Fort Gordon, Ga., from June 2002 to June 2005.

"Gen. Eric Schoomaker has the right blend of leadership, professional expertise and personal experience for this position," said Gen. Richard Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

The Army plans to announce next week a deputy commanding general of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to assist in commanding the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This general officer will be a proven combat-arms field commander who will bring other professional talents and Soldier skills to the hospital's leadership team.

Last week the Army also selected a combat arms lieutenant colonel (promotable) and a command sergeant major to provide structured and caring leadership to the medical hold/medical holdover brigade.

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For more information, call the U.S. Army Public Affairs at (703) 697-2564.