ABEREEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Senior leaders, Soldiers, civilians and guests gathered at Aberdeen Proving Ground's Top of the Bay in July to witness a transition in leadership for the 1st Area Medical Laboratory as Col. Anthony C. Bostick relinquished command of the unit to Col. Patrick M. Garman.
Garman comes to APG from Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, where he served as pharmacy consultant for the Pacific Regional Medical Command and as chief of the Department of Pharmacy.
Col. Jeffrey J. Johnson, commander of the 44th Medical Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C. - the unit's higher headquarters - presided over the ceremony.
Johnson commended Bostick who took charge of the unit in 2011 as it was taking on a new mission order from Central Command while supporting the Army's Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives (CBRNE) Response Force (DCRF) mission.
"This was truly a great challenge, [they were] being pulled in three directions," Johnson said. He credited Bostic with using vision and tenacity during his tenure as the unit's commander, to develop and implement a three-team modular laboratory concept of operations, resulting in a more flexible, expeditionary laboratory, better able to meet the Warfighter's needs.
"[He] delivered this well-developed concept to FORSCOM [U.S. Army Forces Command] and the AMEDD [Army Medical Department] Directorate of Combat Doctrine Development, leading to a change in doctrine regarding the implementation of an AML in support of full spectrum operations," Johnson said.
He thanked Bostic for his patience and flexibility and, "continued leadership to the end."
"You and the Soldiers standing here today have set the standard for many yet to come in the future," he said.
Turning to Garman, Johnson welcomed him and his Family, adding, "I am fully confident the 1st AML will excel under your leadership."
"To the Soldiers of 1st AML," he added, "thank you for your service, dedication and sacrifice. I am fortunate to serve with you and I am proud to stand among you. Keep up the superb job."
Bostick thanked Johnson for his kind words. He recalled that when he assumed command of the unit two years ago, its Soldiers were just returning from Afghanistan and the organization itself was "outdated" and in need of "repair."
"The Soldiers before you … have been the backbone behind the rebuilding of the 1st AML," he said. "After two years, the AML is now standing strong and proud with a strong foundation which it will continue to build from."
He added that the modular structure of the AML will now allow support for more than one operation, enhancing the unit's ability to detect, analyze and report environmental contaminants. Bostick added thanks Master Sgt. Adrianne Harris, the unit's senior noncommissioned officer, for being his "Battle Buddy," and to Johnson and Brig. Gen. J.B. Burton, commander of the 20th Support Command (CBRNE) for supporting his endeavors.
"Thank you for your guidance, leadership and support and for giving me the opportunity to serve with you and these fine Soldiers," he said.
Garman said that he was proud to assume the responsibility and humbled to be the next commander of the 1st AML. He thanked Burton and Johnson for the opportunity to lead.
"I look forward to working with each of you and your staffs to ensure this unit is ready to support and sustain the health of our fighting forces where ever they may be."
The program included the singing of the national anthem by Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Jones and the invocation by APG Garrison Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jerry Owens.
Col. Patrick M. Garman
Garman was born in Troy, Ohio and graduated from Miami East High School. He attended Ohio Northern University on an ROTC and basketball scholarship and received a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy in 1991. He earned a master's in Business Administration from Bowie State University in 1998, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio State University in 2000, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pharmaco-epidemiology from the University of Florida in 2007.
Garman's past assignments include Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; 2nd Medical Brigade, Stensall, England; Office of the Army Surgeon General; 62nd Medical Brigade, Afghanistan; Congressional Staffer, U.S. Army House of Representatives; U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency and Military Vaccine Agency, Fort Detrick, Md.; Seoul, Republic of Korea; Baumholder, Germany; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Fort Irwin, Calif.
His awards include the Bronze Star, Army Meritorious Service, Commendation and Achievement medals and Airborne, Air Assault and Expert Field Medical badges.
Garman is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit, Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.; Silver Caduceus Society of Korea, and the 38th Parallel Medical Society of Korea. Garman is married with four children.
1st Area Medical Laboratory
The 1st Area Medical Laboratory was activated March 20, 1942 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as one of the 19 field laboratories activated during World War II. The unit served as an epidemiological and sanitary laboratory capable of performing studies required in the control and prevention of diseases. It also supplemented laboratory facilities of hospitals and other medical units such as aid stations and dispensaries.
The 1st Medical Laboratory participated in seven campaigns during World War I in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The unit deployed to Korea from 1951 to 1953, participated in five additional campaigns and provided laboratory services during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970.
The unit was awarded three meritorious unit citations for service during Korea and Vietnam. After Vietnam, the unit was deactivated. On Sept. 16, 2004, the unit was reactivated at APG and re-designated the 1st Area Medical Laboratory.
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