Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston –
The Navy Medicine Training Support Center, or NMTSC, held a
change of command ceremony at the Medical Education and Training Campus, or
METC, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Friday.
During the ceremony, Capt. Brent M. Kelln assumed command,
relieving Capt. Denise L. Smith as she retired following a 30-year career in
the Navy.
“Today’s ceremony is doubly special because it is a change
of command and a retirement for a tremendous officer,” said Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-Boyle,
commander, Navy Medicine Education and Training Command, or NMETC, and
officiating officer for the change of command. “The change of command focuses
on two officers and the transition of leadership from one to the other. And the
retirement focuses on Capt. Smith and it’s our opportunity to acknowledge her
years of service and many contributions.”
Smith was commissioned in the Navy Reserves in May 1986.
After being called to active duty in 1990 to support Operation Desert
Shield/Storm, Smith decided to stay on active duty for the rest of her career.
Following a diverse career at locations around the world, she was selected as
the first deputy commander of NMETC as it stood up at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston in
2012. She assumed her role at NMTSC in June 2014.
During the ceremony, Smith highlighted some of the command’s
accomplishments during her time on board, including two consecutive golden
anchor retention awards, two JBSA-Fort Sam Houston large-group volunteer
awards, various sports recognitions and the Total Sailor Development
initiative, which focuses on building well-rounded Sailors while in training.
“I will forever be grateful to have shared this journey with
each of you,” Smith said. “The sweat, the tears, the many successes will stay
with me always. But as always, there’s still more to do. We can still be
better. With the continued collaboration between the various groups on JBSA,
and with our civilian counterparts, we can strive to make NMTSC the best
command and the best class ‘A’ and ‘C’ school.”
During his remarks, Kelln, who reported to NMTSC from Naval
Health Clinic Patuxent River, Md., said, “I look forward to serving with the
Navy Medicine Training Support Center team and to collectively meeting the
challenges we will face along the way.”