New commander takes over LRMC

***image1***Members of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center welcomed their new commander, Col. W. Bryan Gamble, in a ceremony on the Landstuhl parade field Aug. 4.

Colonel Gamble comes to the assignment from the office of the assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. There, he served as assistant deputy for health policy.

“This is an honor for me, to command this facility that has such a large role in caring for our Soldiers wounded or ill in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Colonel Gamble said, after receiving the colors signifying his authority from the commanding general of the Europe Regional Medical Command, Brig. Gen. Carla G. Hawley-Bowland. “This is the largest, American medical facility outside of the United States, and I look forward to the challenge.”

More than 25,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen have been evacuated through the facility since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, according to hospital records. In addition to leading the medical center’s staff, Colonel Gamble’s command includes outlying medical clinics in three different countries: Belgium, Germany and Italy.

Former commander Col. J. Murray Francis held the commander’s position on an interim basis for two months following the departure of Col. Rhonda Cornum, who returned to the states in June to become the U.S. Army Forces Command’s command surgeon. Colonel Francis will now become the deputy commander for primary care at Landstuhl.