Lt. Col. Garrett Holt assumed command of the Lyster Army Health Clinic from Lt. Col. Danielle Rodondi during a change of command ceremony at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker on June 7.
The audience was much different from when Lt. Col. Rodondi first accepted command in June 2020 in a virtual ceremony during the height of the COVID pandemic with just ten persons in attendance at the museum. During Tuesday’s event, community leaders, colleagues, family, and friends gathered to watch the time honored tradition, the Change of Command Ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Mary Krueger, U.S. Army Regional Health Command-Atlantic commanding general, was host for the ceremony.
“The Fort Rucker MEDDAC team gathered with us today served through one of the most dynamic environments in our recent history,” remarked Brig. Gen. Krueger. “The work required to keep the worlds' best trained, most highly qualified Aviators ready and in the air is no easy task, and what the Lyster team accomplished required engaged, innovation leadership.”
Brig. Gen. Krueger continued to bid farewell to one accomplished leader, as she welcomed another to the Lyster team, Lt. Col. Garrett Holt. “I am confident that his leadership and experience will carry the Fort Rucker MEDDAC forward with success and that he will continue to represent Army Medicine well.”
Outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Danielle Rodondi said it was a great honor to serve Lyster and the Fort Rucker community. She will continue her military career at the Air War College.
“Lyster’s strategic value lies in its support of Army Aviation,” remarked Lt. Col. Rodondi as she shared her insight on the role Lyster and the team played during the pandemic. “These last two years during the pandemic, the committed health care professionals at Lyster completely transformed operations to keep aviators in the air, and take care of families and retirees.”
Lt. Col. Rodondi expressed her gratitude to the team, “Thank you for the honor and privilege to serve as the Commander of Lyster Army Health Clinic.”
She concluded by welcoming Lt. Col. Holt and his family to Lyster. "You are joining an amazing team of health care professionals at Lyster."
Incoming commander Lt. Col. Holt's recent assignment was Secretary of the General Staff with Regional Health Command - Pacific.
Lt. Col. Holt remarked he is honored to be joining the Lyster family. "I look forward to working with our community leaders as we build a stronger and healthier Fort Rucker community." He continued, “History shows us that there are great leaders, and there are difficult times, and sometimes the two arrive at the same time in the same place. (Lt. Col. Rodondi) You were clearly that for Lyster during an unprecedented pandemic, among many other missions and tasks that kept Lyster a high-quality health readiness platform and bolstered a legacy of greatness at this organization. Job well done.”
Lyster Army Health Clinic serves a population of about 17,000 beneficiaries. The clinic is consistently ranked among the top Military Treatment Facilities in the Regional Health Command-Atlantic for its ability to deliver excellent healthcare.
Lt. Col. Holt concluded, “Readiness is our priority, and we will continue to produce it through quality, ready reliable care at Lyster Army Health Clinic."
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