The Fort Bliss Dental Health Activity (DENTAC) held a change of command ceremony where Col. Valerie Holmes relinquished command to Col. Karen Keith at the Fort Bliss and Old Ironsides Museum, Aug. 18.
Holmes, who took command of the Fort Bliss DENTAC over a year ago, will go on to assume duty as the deputy for Clinical Performance Assurance Directorate (CPAD), at U.S. Army Medical Command.
"(Holmes) has never taken her eye off the mission," said Col. Michael Roberts, commander, Dental Health Command-Central. "She knows full-well that every Soldier is someone's son, daughter, mother, father, brother or sister."
During Holmes' command, the Fort Bliss DENTAC reached an all-time high of 98.2 percent dental readiness and 60 percent dental wellness. A Soldier is considered to have dental wellness when they require no dental treatment.
"She demonstrated absolute steady leadership. (Dental wellness) is particularly difficult to accomplish on a FORSCOM installation with a high-(operations) tempo," said Roberts. "Her professionalism and competence not only earned her the trust and confidence from her chain of command but also the praise of 1st Armored Division leaders."
Fort Bliss DENTAC is comprised of five dental clinics spanning over three states including Fort Bliss, Texas, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
"Four hundred days ago we started a journey of reconciliation, restoration and revival. We became a unit with a purpose: to ensure we could provide quality care for our Soldiers," said Holmes, a native of Los Angeles. "This is one of the best commands, not because I was here, because of qualified compassionate caring providers. We are one, we have one purpose and we have one team."
Keith, a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, most recently served as the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) and deputy commander of Dental Health Activity-Italy in Vicenza, Italy. Keith also serves as the OMS Consultant to the Army Surgeon General.
The Fort Bliss community is thrilled to have Keith take on this complex, commanding and sometimes very difficult command, said Roberts. Keith is without a doubt a Soldier's Soldier.
"I'm truly honored to be able to serve with (the Soldiers of Fort Bliss DENTAC)," said Keith. "I'm committed to having our team succeed and maximize the support to those that we serve.
"Readiness is number one. There is no other number one... (Readiness) is our mission," said Keith.
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