SHAPE Healthcare Facility, 424 Air Base Squadron welcome new leaders

CHIEVRES AIR BASE, Belgium – Multiple organizations within the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux area welcomed new leaders during ceremonies at Chièvres Air Base and SHAPE, June 14, 2023.

SHAPE and Brussels Healthcare Facilities

Col. Andrew Landers, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center commander, welcomed Col. Charles Douglas as the new commander of the SHAPE Healthcare Facility and U.S. Army Health Clinic Brussels during an assumption of command ceremony at SHAPE.

Douglas replaces Col. Michael Ronn, who relinquished command on May 10, 2023, to take command of the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As commander of the two facilities, Douglas will be responsible for providing health care services to an international, joint community composed of multiple military commands and over 18,000 NATO personnel and Family members.

Douglas originally joined the Army as a Korean linguist before earning his commission through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Moore, Georgia, in 2001. He has served in leadership and command positions in the U.S., Europe and Indo-Pacific theaters, and also deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the Chief of Healthcare Development for Afghan National Security Forces.

“The contemporary environment that we live in offers a host of opportunities…as part of the ongoing transformation of healthcare delivery here in Europe,” Douglas said during the ceremony, “and I’m confident in our SHAPE and Brussels Healthcare Facility team to meet the mission that lies ahead.”

“I’m honored to be a part of that as we move toward the future of ensuring quality, safe health care while enabling readiness.”

Also during the ceremony, Master Sgt. Christian Cuyno, senior enlisted advisor for the SHAPE Healthcare Facility, relinquished his responsibilities to Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Robirds.

Cuyno will move on to become a student at the U.S. Army Sergeant Major’s Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.

“Thank you for exemplifying our Army values to the SHAPE Soldiers and staff - you’ve done an outstanding job,” said Landers. “As he [Cuyno] prepares for increased responsibility as a senior NCO…he’s going to do us proud.”

Robirds enlisted as a combat medic in 2012 and has served in a variety of positions in North Carolina, Texas and Belgium.

Prior to assuming his duties as senior enlisted advisor, Robirds served as the senior enlisted leader to the deputy commander of clinical services for the SHAPE Healthcare Facility.

“Nowhere is there such a diverse and united team as there is here at SHAPE,” said Landers as he addressed the new leadership team. “By providing exceptional healthcare, you’ll contribute directly to the readiness and effectiveness of the [NATO] alliance by ensuring they’re primed to respond to any threat to our shared values and principles. I have full faith in your abilities and the paths of success you will lead SHAPE and Brussels toward.”

424th Air Base Squadron

The 424th Air Base Squadron bid farewell to outgoing commander Lt. Col. Kevin Coughlin and welcomed new commander Lt. Col. Chelsea Hall during a change of command ceremony at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium.

During the ceremony, Col. Sean Finnan, commander of the 86th Operations Group, highlighted the wide array of events and missions the 424 ABS, also known as the “Red Devils,” accomplished under Coughlin’s tenure.

“You operationalized the Red Devils,” Finnan said, “transforming the airfield and squadron from a ‘Sleepy Hollow’ runway…to a full-fledged and integrated operating location for not only 86 OG aircraft and crews, but also a training location for our NATO partners. That foundation of labor will pay tremendous dividends in the future.”

Before relinquishing command, Coughlin thanked the squadron for their hard work and humility over the last two years.

“We are an Air Force squadron, on an Army Garrison, running a NATO airfield,” Coughlin said. “If it takes a few minutes to understand, think of how challenging it is to make happen every day – but the Red Devils do it.”

“I can’t possibly capture all of your accomplishments over the last two years because we’d be here forever…but I’m so proud of you. You have taught me so much over the last two years. I’m blessed to have served alongside you.”

Coughlin will next move on to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he will serve as the deputy commander for the 86th Operations Group.

Hall, an airfield operations and foreign area officer, is arriving from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where she served as the director of operations for the 375th Operations Support Squadron.

After commissioning into the Air Force from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, Hall served in a number of command and staff assignments in the U.S., Turkey and Morocco. She has also deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve.

As the commander of the 424th ABS, Hall will serve as the senior airfield authority for the SHAPE Airfield located on Chièvres Air Base. Her squadron of approximately 64 personnel are responsible for supporting the Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s strategic engagements, as well as operating three drop zones, a tactical landing zone and the SHAPE heliport.

“It is an honor to be given this opportunity to lead and mentor the Red Devil Family,” Hall said as she addressed her new unit. “I look forward to working alongside each and every one of you while we all find ways to be a stronger Red Devil Family, and strengthen our partnerships with our NATO allies, the garrison and USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe).”