Photo By Jean Wines | Brig. Gen. James (Jamie) Burk, commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Readiness...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – McDonald Army Health Center held a change of command ceremony May 29 at Jacobs Conference Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, recognizing its outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Demarcio Reed, and welcoming incoming commander Lt. Col. Michael F. Brown.
Brig. Gen. James (Jamie) Burk, commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Readiness Command, East, director of Defense Health Network (DHN) East, and 27th Chief of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, presided over the event. The ceremony included the traditional passing of the unit colors to symbolize the senior leader’s trust in the incoming commander to lead MCAHC and its mission to provide the best healthcare.
“Michael, as you assume command of this exceptional team, continue building on the established foundation of excellence and a commitment to our mission,” said Burk. “You bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to this role, and I have full confidence in your ability to guide this MEDDAC and clinic to even greater heights.”
Before arriving at MCAHC, Brown served as the department chief for Medical-Surgical Nursing at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. A native of Delaware, he was commissioned into the Army as a direct accession and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.
Lt. Col. Brown is board-certified in medical-surgical nursing through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. In 2019, he was recognized with the Army Regent’s Award for Early Career Healthcare Executive Excellence by the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has also served as a deputy consultant to the U.S. Army Surgeon General for medical-surgical nursing.
During the same ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew J. Hershey assumed responsibilities as the center’s senior enlisted advisor, forming the new command team tasked with leading MCAHC in delivering high-quality healthcare to the Joint Base Langley-Eustis community and the broader Hampton Roads region.
“As I step into this new role, I do so with a servant’s heart. As I lead with grace, let my example far exceed the authority of my rank. My commitment is to lead with integrity, compassion, and respect for those I serve beside,” said Hershey.
“To the team here at McDonald; change of commands come and go,” said Brown. “The leaders come and go, but the job doesn’t change. The ceremony seems like we are landing the plane and then taking off again, but truth be told, the plane is not landing. We are perpetually in flight and are able to do so because of you. My promise to you is to do everything in my power to ensure this plane doesn’t run out of fuel and will continue on its path of excellence.
McDonald Army Health Center is a key military healthcare facility in Hampton Roads where it partners closely with the 633rd Medical Group at Langley Air Force Base and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth to deliver care to more than 25,000 service members, retirees, and family members in the region.
The health center offers a broad spectrum of services including adult and pediatric primary care, troop medical services, specialty clinics, and ambulatory surgical care (with surgeries performed on-site at Langley Air Force Base). In May 2019, the center also expanded its footprint by opening a community-based medical home in Williamsburg, Virginia, which provides primary care, pharmacy, laboratory, and physical therapy services.
As a member of the DHN Atlantic, MCAHC plays a vital role in the coordination and delivery of integrated, high-quality healthcare in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Defense Health Agency and Veterans Health Administration.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2025 15:52 |
| Story ID: | 499671 |
| Location: | FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 113 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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