Womack welcomes new commander

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Jan. 11, 2016) -- The gym at Tolson Youth Activities Center was filled the morning of Jan. 8 as Womack Army Medical Center welcomed its new commander, Col. Lance C. Raney, during a change of command ceremony.

Raney said that while this is his first assignment at Fort Bragg, he has a deep appreciation for the service members stationed here as part of the airborne and special operations missions.

"The team at Fort Bragg not only shoulders America's freedom, but the security of our planet," said Raney.

He said that in the few days he's been at WAMC, he can already see that the hospital takes its mission to care for that team seriously and vowed to continue building on the successes of outgoing commander, Col. Ronald T. Stephens.

Brig. Gen. Ronald J. Place, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Atlantic, hosted the ceremony. Place lauded the successes of Stephens during his tenure, which included the full accreditation from the Joint Commission within months of taking command in May 2014, ensuring WAMC was fully prepared to provide care if the Ebola outbreak extended in the United States, improving access to care, overseeing the renovation and procedure changes in the Emergency Department, and making certain medical personnel were fully trained and prepared to deploy side-by-side with warfighters.

Place said that he was confident that the accomplishments under Stephens would continue during Raney's command.

"I know you're the right military Family for Fort Bragg," Place told the Raneys during the ceremony. "And that you'll continue to give our beneficiaries the healthcare they deserve."

Stephens, who is heading to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to serve as the deputy commander of Regional Health Command-Pacific, echoed Place's remarks, saying that Raney is the right man to take the organization to the next level.

When reflecting on his time in command, Stephens said that his accomplishments are due to the 4,000 professionals working at WAMC who provide unbelievable service and quality care to the community.

"The defining moment is right now at Womack," said Stephens. "Right now lives are being saved, lives are being started and lives are being bettered."