The Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commander of U.S. Army Medical Command, Lt. Gen. Raymond S. Dingle, was at White Sands Missile Range June 29 to visit McAfee U.S. Army Health Clinic and other facilities on post.
During his visit McAfee Commander Lt. Col. Marc Skinner gave him a tour of the facilities, followed by a coin presentation to team McAfee.
When asked about his visit to McAfee, Dingle said he enjoyed the opportunity to visit with and assess firsthand the mission support and well-being of military and civilian staff around the globe.
“This has been challenged since the start of the pandemic, where we firmly believe that being with troops cannot always be substituted in the ‘virtual’ environment. McAfee Army Health Clinic has been high on our list of commands to visit, playing a pivotal role in the care for the military community as well as the important missions and programs at White Sands Missile Range.”
Dingle went on to talk about some of his priorities for McAfee. “The priorities for McAfee resemble that of every Army military treatment facility (MTF), being able to deliver safe, accessible, and quality care while ensuring the operational readiness of both the Soldiers within and those Service members that they support.”
When asked about challenges for McAfee in the coming year, Dingle said he only sees opportunities.
“I don’t see challenges, but opportunities for McAfee Army Health Clinic to excel on a number of key fronts. As Army Medicine pivots to readiness, so do our leaders and Soldiers. The focus on leveraging installation resources available, seeing our fixed facilities as ‘health readiness platforms’, and leader innovation; will enable Soldiers to complete individual critical task lists (ICTLs). This is an opportunity and priority.”
Dingle then talked about the importance of McAfee as a medically ready force.
“As stated previously, leader focus on the priorities is how we achieve not only a medically ready, but ready medical force. In addition to maximizing existing capabilities and opportunities at the clinic and White Sands Missile Range, our leaders are being charged with exploring additional ways to participate in exercises, ensuring military schools and training standards are met, and utilizing existing military-civilian partnerships as discussed with their medical center and regionally aligned headquarters.”
Dingle also talked about how proud he is of McAfee and the many achievements.
“I’m extremely proud of McAfee’s recent achievements with both their support to the Department of the Army Inspector General and Army Reactor Council Inspections; and their receiving the Army’s Safety Excellence Streamer from the Army Readiness Assessment Program inspection. The streamer centered on the establishment of policies and practices related to safety and risk management, places McAfee Army Health Clinic among the top 20 percent of Battalions across the Army.”
The following individuals received a coin:
Elvia Blasch, Industrial Hygiene Program Manager, who was instrumental in rectifying an IH program that had no leadership for more than a decade.
Tamara Turnbull, Occupational Health Nurse, who played an integral role in correcting multiple deficiencies in the Nuclear Surety Program.
Capt. Wa Poung, OIC McAfee Clinic, who served as the lead medical support representative to the Chu-SAM Japanese Ground Self Defense Force test program, comprised of 350 personnel, that conducted a ground-based mobile missile defense interceptor at WSMR.
Sgt. Daniel Diaz, who serves as the McAfee COVID Task Force point person since October 2020 and has been indispensable at coordination of COVID-19 testing along with contract tracing.
Pfc. Tyler Laird, a member of the McAfee COVID Task Force that assists in coordination of testing, contact tracing, and performs the nasal swabs in support of the response to the pandemic for McAfee/WSMR.
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