673d Medical Group welcomes new commander, says farewell to old

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Air Force Col. Paul Friedrichs relinquished command of the 673d Medical Group to Air Force Col. Thomas W. Harrell during a change of command ceremony in front of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson hospital, July 8.

Friedrichs took command of the then 3rd Medical Group in August 2008. Since then, he and his staff have achieved many milestones, he said.

Under Friedrichs' command, the hospital team completed the 2011 Joint Commission Survey and Health service inspection and was awarded a full three-year accreditation status with an outstanding rating from the Air Force Health Services inspection team. The hospital had the highest score given to an Air Force hospital in more than five years.
"We could not have chosen a better backdrop for this important event today," said Air Force Col. Robert Evans, 673d Air Base Wing commander and presiding official.
"In front of you stands the best hospital in the Air Force an honor they earned two years in a row under Colonel Friedrichs' leadership."

Evans said he was proud of the numerous accomplishments Friedrichs and his team were able to accomplish, and how one in particular stood out in his mind.
"Several weeks ago, I took an in-brief from the team visiting here to inspect this hospital," Evans said. "A health and standards inspection - a rigorous inspection that looks back five years, looks forward five years and looks today at how this hospital meets the rigorous standards of the medical community."

Evans said, the inspector mentioned "satisfactory" as the standard evaluation most hospitals received.

"I told him, as an O-6 full colonel leading the team, that, 'I'll be extraordinarily surprised if they get anything less than an 'excellent' because the last time this hospital was inspected in fact they did get an excellent.' And, under Colonel Friedrichs' leadership they've been on an uphill vector ever since."

"On Friday, (July 1) the team gave the out-brief with the results," Evans said. "They didn't get an 'excellent.' They got an 'outstanding' - the highest award of a hospital in the last five years. In fact, nobody on the team could remember a hospital ever that had achieved that high a standard on a scale that they judged."

Evans credited Friedrichs' leadership and the strong support he receives from his wife Rita along with a truly dedicated hospital staff for the high honors.

"An 'outstanding,' how does that happen?" Evans asked. "The only way that that happens is through leadership ... and I no doubt attribute that to Colonel Paul Friedrichs and his wife Rita for their extraordinary leadership. We will truly miss you and we will always be grateful to your service to our Arctic Warrior family and our JBER community."

Evans expressed how glad he was to have incoming commander Harrell and his family join the JBER community.

"Soon you will take command of a medical group that is second to none, performing a mission of unrivaled importance," Evans said. "You will face many challenges and opportunities in command. The outcome will be determined by the strength the commitment and the preparedness of the group that you will lead and I have no doubt that you are up to the challenge."

Friedrichs addressed his group one last time, remembering his time as commander.
"What we do here is not about the Air Force mission or the Army mission or any other single mission, it's about taking care of people and I've been so proud to be part of that for the last three years," Friedrichs said.

He said it was an honor and privilege to serve the community and to serve under what he considered three of the best wing commanders and wing command teams.

"It began with Brigadier General "Guns" and Pam Bergeson, who were absolutely phenomenal," Friedrichs said. "Guns started out by asking me what I knew about running a fighter wing, and my answer was not very much and he said, 'Good, because I don't know anything about running a hospital. So, you run the hospital, I'll run the wing and we'll get along just fine."

Friedrichs said Bergeson was followed by colonels McMullen and Evans, both of which carried on with that trust.

"Our nation is safe because of the warriors who defend it," Friedrichs said. "We hear it every change of command how the pilots fly the jets, the maintainers maintain the jets, the logisticians take care of the equipment, and the families take care of all of us. I could not be more proud that every one of those people that I just mentioned turned to us for care and we were here when you needed us. Our pledge is that we will always be here for you. Thank you so much for the honor serving here with you."

After Friedrichs finished his farewell, Evans passed the guidon to Harrell.

"I am thankful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me Colonel Evans," Harrell said. "Along with Colonel Evans and Colonel Friedrichs, I too am grateful for the presence of our local state, federal and international community representatives as well as our sister service leader and partners of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson team. Your presence expresses the value you place on the care that is provided here. I am honored by the members of the 673d Medical Group and Veterans Affairs staff in attendance and in the building behind us currently serving our community."

Harrell said, he was impressed with the group's accomplishments and proud he was being provided with an astounding organization to lead. He said, he has studied the group and is excited about the future.

"When we found out that we were coming here, people who've had the opportunity to be in Alaska emphatically ensured us we would love it," the new commander said. "They repeatedly described Alaska as the frontier. The great thing about a frontier is that it's wild and uncharted. Frontiers allow the freedom to craft what you want-- what is right-- what is necessary. This joint base and this joint venture are frontiers. They afford us the opportunity to be innovative and challenge conventional thought.

Harrell said, he is excited to meet the challenges head-on.