MEDDAC gains new commander in change of command ceremony

By Carol FlickingerJune 20, 2011

Change of Command
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Philip Volpe (Commander, WRMC), Col. Carol Newman (outgoing MEDDAC commander) and Col. William Moran (new MEDDAC commander) prepare to march onto Brown Parade Field for the change of command. Col. Newman's new assignment is as the Regiona... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Change of Command
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC), Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center (RWBAHC) held a change of command ceremony on Wednesday at Brown Parade Field in historical Old Post. The early morning ceremony welcomed Col. William Moran as the new MEDDAC commander and bid farewell to former MEDDAC commander, Col. Carol Newman.

Maj. Gen. Philip Volpe, Commander, Western Region Medical Command (WRMC), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington attended the ceremony as the reviewing officer. Volpe praised Newman’s extensive accomplishments during her two years in command. “Over the past 24 months, Col. Carol Newman worked tirelessly on behalf of her command and made tremendous contributions to the health and well-being of Soldiers, Family Members and Veterans in and around Fort Huachuca. Her ambitious and visionary leadership, with unwavering dedication and selfless service, led her team to performance excellence…as evidenced by spearheading several initiatives which resulted in huge improvements in access to care, quality of care and Soldier readiness.”

“ Her team led the WRMC in productivity, patient satisfaction and efficiency…receiving special recognition from the Surgeon General . Carol established strong partnerships with installation leaders which enhanced health and readiness. She ensured a smooth transition to civilian life for over 200 Warriors who were no longer fit for continued military service due to their medical conditions. In addition, Carol oversaw the healthcare preparation for deployment and reintegration of the 40th and 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalions.”

“ Carol…thanks for your service here. You consistently distinguished yourself while executing your duties with precision. You never lost sight of caring for your Soldiers and Civilian Staff. Fort Huachuca certainly benefited from your leadership and the numerous contributions you made over the last two years.”

During her tenure, the MEDDAC also produced the Fort Huachuca NCO of the Year (2009), Fort Huachuca Soldier of the Year (2010), and the MEDCOM Soldier of the Year (2009), successfully immunized Fort Huachuca Soldiers and civilians against H1N1 for 2009 and seasonal flu for 2009/2010, and implemented a motorcycle mentorship program which decreased motorcycle accidents to one minor motorcycle during the past 24 months.

Newman also implemented and supported The Army Family Covenant, completed 19 blood drives in support of the Army Blood Bank mission, and implemented e-profile. Shortly before relinquishing command, she ensured that RWBAHC met the stringent accreditation standards of the Joint Commission for Primary Care and Behavioral Health, and the certifications for the radiology department and the laboratory.

Newman is married to Chief Warrant Officer 5 (RET) Ryan Newman. They have two sons. Christopher is a Cadet at the United States Military Academy and William will be a junior in high school in the fall. Newman’s next assignment is with the Southern Regional Medical Command as the Regional Nurse Executive in San Antonio, Texas.

Newman addressed the Soldiers and attendees at the ceremony, “Two years ago today I pledged to each of you and the entire fort Huachuca community to continue to foster a collaborative approach to the delivery of quality healthcare for Soldiers, Family Members and Retirees in order to enhance the state of wellness for this fine community. I believe this pledge was met and will continue to be met with the multitude of improvements the MEDDAC staff has accomplished and I’m confident will continue to accomplish.”

Volpe expressed his certainty that Moran would continue to build on the precedents set by Newman, “Today we are very fortunate to welcome Col Bill Moran and his family to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Col Moran takes command with all the right skills and experience. Over the course of his Army career, he served in a variety of leadership assignments to include assignment sin Korea and Europe, deployments to Honduras and Afghanistan, a Clinic Command in Vilseck, Germany, and was recently Deputy Commander for Army Health Clinics at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. “

“Bill is an experienced, seasoned officer…and we are thrilled that he takes command of the Raymond W. Bliss Health Center. Welcome to Team Huachuca and the Western Regional Medical Command. You have my full support and I am looking forward to serving with you.”

Moran commented that, “As I watch the Soldiers practice for this ceremony, I recall words spoken by Gen . Dempsey who said, “It’s not practice that makes perfect, but rather, perfect practice that makes perfect. It is after all, attention to detail and commitment to high standards that makes us the premiere army in the world”. I am well aware of the great gift that has been given to me today. Command is always a privilege. Command in a time of war is a distinct honor.” Moran is married to the former Sarah Forbes. They have one child, Abigail Catherine.

The ceremony included a company-sized element of 30 Soldiers from the MEDDAC and WTU. Lt. Col. Craig Fisher was Commander of Troops. Sergeant Major was 1st Sgt. Kenneth Snapp and Adjutant was Capt. Alex Padilla. Mr. James Chambers narrated the ceremony while mounted troops from B Troop, 4th U.S. Calvary (Memorial) performed an impressive cavalry charge, and the newly- renamed 62nd Army Band performed on the field and in the Pass In Review, led by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Otha Hester, Commander, and Sgt. 1st Class William King, Drum Major. The invocation was given by Chaplain (Col.) Kenneth Revell.

History of Medical Services at Fort Huachuca

Fort Huachuca’s first dispensary was a 35 by 18 foot stockade mud roof building constructed in 1877 to serve troops B and M, 6th Cavalry, and Camp Huachuca’s early company of Indian scouts. The second hospital building was completed in 1880 at a cost of $1,289. It was a six bed wood and adobe building and is Fort Huachuca’s oldest building. It is currently used as senior officer’s quarters and was the quarters for subsequent hospital commanders for over a quarter of a century.

Fort Huachuca’s third hospital was completed in June 1885 with the expansion of the post to regimental size and just prior to the arrival of the new hospital commander, Dr. Leonard Wood. Dr. Wood would later become famous as a Medal of Honor recipient. This building continued to Fort Huachuca’s hospital until 1941 (a total of 56 years). The building is now the finance center and stands at the corner of Boyd and Christy Streets.

With war clouds on the horizon, the new cantonment hospital opened in May 1941 and at its peak the hospital operated 1,135 beds. In 1944 the facility was designated a “regional hospital”.

The ground breaking for Fort Huachuca’s fifth hospital, named Raymond W. Bliss Army Community Hospital (in honor of Maj. Gen.l Raymond W. Bliss), was in July 1965 and the facility was dedicated in July 1967. It was a three-story state-of-the-art hospital with a 110 bed capacity. AS the delivery of healthcare transformed in the military, it gradually downsized to a 30 bed hospital, and finally on 1 October 1999 officially closed its doors as “Raymond W. Bliss Army Community Hospital” and reopened as “Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center.”

Today, the facility serves approximately 16,000 Soldiers and Family Members, and military retirees on a space-available basis. The health center houses two primary care clinics, the Soldier Readiness Clinic, the Weekend and Holiday Access Clinic and provides ancillary and specialty services including Behavioral Health, Optometry, Sports Medicine, Occupational Health, Allergy and Immunizations, Medical Boards, Exceptional Family Member Program(EFMP), Pharmacy and Lab, X-ray. Additional MEDDAC services that are provided at other locations on post include the Warrior Transition Unit, the Military Intelligence Student Clinic, the Military Medicine Clinic, and the PX pharmacy. Just as it has since 1877, the Army Medical Department continues its brilliant tradition of exceptional service to Fort Huachuca.