Public Health Command Welcomes New Leader

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (July 24, 2014) -- Col. Jacqueline Chando assumed command of the Public Health Command Region-North in a 30-minute change of command ceremony July 16 at McGill Training Center.

"I'm so proud to be able to serve beside you in this mission," Chando said to the several Soldiers and civilians of the command who attended the ceremony. "Congratulations on a job well done."

Col. Michael R. Bell relinquished leadership after a two-year tenure. He moves on to become the medical officer in the Division of Communicable Disease Alert and Response Operations at the World Health Organization's European office in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Dean G. Sienko, commander, U.S. Army Public Health Command, called Chando "a proven leader."

"Jackie, I'm glad to have you on our team," Sienko said. "Colonel Bell has left a lasting mark, but you bring the right experiences, talents and leadership skills we need to continue our support of the surgeon general's transition to a system of health."

PHCR-North has the mission of providing regionally focused preventive medicine, veterinary service, and health promotion support to the Army in a 20-state area of responsibility, stretching from Maine to North Carolina and as far west as Wisconsin.

Approximately 500 personnel are spread across the PHCR-North area of operations, serving in three Public Health Command districts. They provide support services across the full spectrum of public health disciplines and are divided into five divisions: environmental health engineering, veterinary services, occupational health sciences, health risk management and laboratory services.

Chando was born into a military family and raised in New Jersey. She transitioned and graduated from Reserve Officers' Training Corps and Rutgers University in 1988 with a bachelor of administration in sociology. She was commissioned in the Medical Service Corps.

Chando earned a master's degree in human resources from Central Michigan University in 1996 and a doctorate in philosophy in health sciences while attending the Command and General Staff College in 2003.

Chando's early career assignments include chief, Patient Administration, 28th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Bragg, N.C.; hospital adjutant, 28th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Bragg; platoon leader and company executive officer, 10th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo.; and Battalion S1, 4th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Carson.

Most recently, Chando served as assistant chief of staff of human resources at the Northern Regional Medical Command at Fort Belvoir, Va.

During the ceremony, Sienko praised Bell for being "passionate about his responsibilities," an "outstanding mentor" and "innovative in leadership development."

He also credited Bell for his leadership in developing a regionwide emergency management plan and leading the way in implementing MEDCOM's safety management system.

Sienko said that Bell and former Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Davis were successful in "creating a noteworthy legacy" that should make them proud.

In his remarks, Bell said that when he started his tenure two years ago, he called PHCR-North "an amazing unit."

"I stand here today even more convinced of this fact than I was then," he said.

Bell said that Chando and Command Sgt. Maj. David Galati "bring new capabilities" to Public Health Command.

"This is the command team that our region needs to take it to the next level," he said.

In her remarks, Chando said that the Soldiers and civilians of her new unit "continue to do an extraordinary job."

"It is an honor to be part of such an illustrious team," she said.

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Fort Meade, Md.