Soldiers and civilians gathered at Founders Field June 16, 2021, to bid farewell to Lt. Col. Gregory Reppas and welcome Lt. Col. Justin DeVanna during the Public Health Activity (PHA) — Fort Carson change of command ceremony.
Col. John Urciuoli, commander, Public Health Command – Central, served as the reviewing officer for the ceremony. Uriciuoli highlighted Reppas’s achievements and welcomed DeVanna to the team.
“Lt. Col. Reppas is what I call a force multiplier — somebody who’s always positive. Never doubt the impact that has on an organization,” said Urciuoli. “I have every confidence in Justin (DeVanna). He’s a perennial triathlete — somebody who knows how to push himself and his organization to the next level.”
PHA — Fort Carson is a battalion-level public health and veterinary command consisting of four branches, comprised of about 130 military and civilian personnel. The organization is responsible for providing comprehensive public health, food protection and veterinary services in support of 40 Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps installations over a 13-state area of operations.
DeVanna, the incoming commander, approached the podium to offer his brief remarks to the team.
“My primary goal as your commander is to be a servant leader. I am here to serve you, not for you to serve me,” said DeVanna. “Thank you for receiving me into your Family. You all are officially a part of mine, as well.”
DeVanna entered active duty in 2007 after graduating with honors from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He previously served as the chief of internal medicine for the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Reppas, the outgoing commander, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions to PHA — Fort Carson and will be attending the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, this summer.
“To the Soldiers of Public Health Activity-Fort Carson, as I said two years ago when I took command, you are the future and the pride and the absolute best that the veterinary services organization has to offer,” said Reppas. “I wish every single one of you success and good health, and I look forward to seeing you all grow personally and professionally while taking our veterinary services enterprise into the future.”
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2021 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 400088 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Public Health Activity welcomes new commander, by Emily Klinkenborg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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