79th MDW stands up

Brig Gen John I Pray, Jr. 89 th Airlift Wing commander, left, receives the 89th Medical Group guidon from Brig Gen Thomas W. Travis during the 79th Medical Wing activation ceremony at Andrews where Travis was named the new wing’s commander. (U.S. Air Force photo)

By LaDonna Bowen
79th Medical Wing Public Affairs

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- It was standing room only in Hangar 3 on Andrews May 12 during a ceremony that deactivated two medical groups and activated the Air Force's second medical wing.

Maj. Gen. Robert L. Smolen, Air Force District of Washington commander, presided over the historical event, where he both received and relinquished command of the 11th and the 89th Medical Groups and activated the 79th Medical Wing, assigning command to Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis as the new wing's commander.

"Under this new wing, all Air Force medical assets in the National Capital Region will come together under a single commander," said Smolen.

This wing will be unlike anything in recent memory and reflects the expanding need of today's military into this new age of the Global War on Terror, he said.

Community leaders, personnel from both commands and some of the Air Force's most senior medical leaders, attended the ceremony, which featured the United States Air Force Band and the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

"You don't stand up a new wing every day, so that makes this a special day for the Air Force," said Travis during his remarks.

Upon assuming command of the 79th MDW, Travis activated and designated command of the 579th Medical Group at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., to Col. Brenda J. McEleney. He then activated the 79th Medical Group, which will be at Malcolm Grow Medical Center on Andrews; its new commander has yet to be identified.

As part of AFDW and the Air Force National Capital Region Headquarters command, standing up the 79th MDW helps to align all Air Force medical assets in the region under a single commander to better serve the Air Force mission and the nation when responding to contingencies, said General Travis.

"This [wing] positions us to better plan and respond as a force," said Travis. "That makes this wing, doing this mission, more than just a consolidation of assets under one commander."

Aside from its warfighting mission, the 79th MDW will more closely resemble the hierarchy of other regional military services.

"In the near future, under the most recent Base Realignment and Closure law, the military health system in this region will be more joint, and this new medical wing provides the Air Force with a similar command and control structure as the Army and the Navy, which better postures the Air Force for the important work ahead to build medical readiness and training capabilities in this region." said Travis.

The 79th MDW serves nearly 400,000 beneficiaries in the NCR and has more than 1,500 Airmen and civilian personnel assigned. As commander of the 79th MDW, Travis also serves as the AFDW command surgeon.