Changes of command in Medical Group bring new leadership to the Group and Detachment 1

  • Published
  • By Meaghan E. M. Selki, 1st Lt.
  • 192nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va. --  The 192nd Fighter Wing held a joint change of command ceremony for the 192nd Medical Group and Detachment 1 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), Medical Group, March 20, 2016, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Col. Edmund J. Rutherford accepted command of the Medical Group from Col. Brian L. Preston. Preston is retiring after a distinguished 38-year career spanning enlisted and officer positions in the Marine Corps, Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

"Col. Preston, you've inspired an organization to perform at unprecedented levels," said Bunting. He cited some of the Medical Group successes ensuring readiness of Airmen for eight Air Expeditionary Force deployments, one RED HORSE deployment and two mobilizations. "Thank you. You've done an outstanding job," he said.

"Col. Rutherford, your challenges will be different. But based upon your unique experiences, you will succeed," said Bunting. "I look forward to your successes and I look forward to working with you. Congratulations."

Rutherford was gained from the 4th FW at Seymour Johnson AFB where in addition to other duties he deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He is board certified in both General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and was previously the Chief of Aerospace Medicine in the Medical Group.

Lt. Col. Robyn M. Caudle accepted command of Detachment 1 CERFP from Lt. Col. Jason R. Price. Price took command of the Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight.
Caudle is a Nurse Practitioner with the Medical Group and was previously managing 25 personnel assigned to the Expeditionary Medical Support Team. She has been a member of the Virginia Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package team since 2010.

"Servant leadership is a philosophy I aspire to," said Caudle, citing demonstrations of great leadership she's seen during her time in the Medical Group. "My job is to take care of you, the CERFP team, so that you can take care of the mission."

The change of command ceremony is a military tradition rooted in history in which uniquely developed flags for each organization are publicly exchanged from the hands of the former commander to the hands of the new commander. This ceremony symbolically marks the change of leadership in military organizations.