Col. John A. Powell, left, relinquishes command of William Beaumont Army Medical Center by passing the colors to Brig. Gen. John K. Gilman, commanding general of Great Plains Regional Medical Command at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, during a ceremony Friday. Photo by Clarence Davis III.
Outgoing WBAMC commander reassigned to Middle East
Col. John A. Powell, commander of William Beaumont Army Medical Center for the past 22 months, relinquished command Friday on the Northeast Lawn to take an assignment as chief of staff for health affairs at Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.
The ceremony host was Brig. Gen. James K. Gilman, commanding general for Great Plains Regional Medical Command in San Antonio, Texas. Upon his departure from command, Powell received the Legion of Merit for exceptional performance of duty during his tenure as commander.
In his remarks, Powell said this was a celebration of all the accomplishments the WBAMC staff had achieved throughout the past 22 months.
“You are the best; you have done amazing things,” he said. “Today is a celebration of all your accomplishments.”
Powell credited Fort Bliss and the communities for helping WBAMC succeed. The medical center underwent several changes during his tenure, including the activation of the Warrior Transition Unit and the Restoration and Resilience Center. The center treats Soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, while the WTU is where Soldiers heal after suffering the wounds of war or during training in preparation for war.
“As you continue to grow and change, take care of Soldiers and do the right thing,” Powell concluded.
Several days after Powell assumed command July 25, 2006, WBAMC was notified that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organization would be conducting a survey of WBAMC. During this “pass or fail” survey, the command passed.
“The passing of the survey was one of the many accomplishments that happened under Colonel Powell’s leadership,” said Gilman.
Other accomplishments under Powell’s leadership were the assurance of the upgrade of faciliies and medical capabilities to support the increase in troop strength at Fort Bliss and the upgrade of the Army’s retention program. The retention noncomissioned officer may be among the best, but the program will not work unless there is command support, he said.
“Soldiers will not re-enlist to stay in a unit that does not have command support,” said Gilman.
The improvements to the emergency department were completed and improvements for labor and delivery in the newly formulated Department of Women’s Health are near completion, Gilman added.
Concluding his remarks, Gilman announced that Col. Karen M. Gausman is the acting commander until the May 30 arrival of Col. James M. Baunchalk, who will then assume command.