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General Hepburn takes 59th MDW command

  • Published
  • By Maj. Beth Kelley Horine
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE --  Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Byron C. Hepburn assumed command of the 59th Medical Wing here Nov. 16, taking charge of the Air Force's medical command for Joint Base San Antonio and the Air Force's largest medical facility.  

Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, former commander of Air Education and Training Command, presided at the ceremony.

General Hepburn comes to Lackland following an assignment as the deputy surgeon general for Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. where he was responsible for directing all Air Force Medical Service operations. There, he managed the Air Force Medical Service's $5.1 billion, 43,000-person integrated health care delivery system serving 2.4 million beneficiaries worldwide. Additionally, he previously served as the command surgeon for U.S. European Command and Air Mobility Command.

One of the Air Force's few pilot-physicians, General Hepburn has commanded a medical squadron, group and center and is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, C-9A and C-17A.

As commander of the 59th MDW, General Hepburn leads the Air Force's largest medical facility with a staff of 6,200 and a $330 million budget, spread across seven groups and eight locations.

The wing is home to the Air Force's largest dental facility, the Depart of Defense's Critical Care Air Transport Team Pilot Unit, the DoD's largest blood donor center, the DoD's Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center, and the only extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system capability in the DoD -- and only global ECMO transport option in the world--which provides partial heart-lung bypass to eligible infants and children suffering from severe cardiopulmonary failure.

"For the men and women of the 59 Medical Wing ... our mission is a noble one and borders on being a sacred trust," General Hepburn said during the change of command ceremony. "The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that we care for here and abroad expect and deserve state-of-the-art-care. The 59th Medical Wing will always deliver that high quality care with compassion and an attention to detail."

General Hepburn also illustrated the importance of the wing's mission in the lives of everyday people, highlighting a Wounded Warrior from Operation Enduring Freedom in the audience, Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis. Sergeant Curtis, a CV-22 flight engineer, survived an Osprey helicopter crash over Afghanistan on April 9.

"I had the honor of meeting Sergeant Curtis a few times at Walter Reed [Medical Center]. Seeing Chris making such great progress in his recovery is a testament to what we do, how we do it, and why we must do it to perfection every time," General Hepburn said. "He is a clear reminder to all in the medical service that it is a distinct honor to care for all our beneficiaries--active and retired. Chris, thank you for being here and for your courage and service."

Finally, General Hepburn emphasized the San Antonio-wide partnership in developing Joint Base San Antonio's military medical care system.

"Over the next months we will continue to build on our partnership with our Army colleagues as we establish a premier San Antonio military health system," the general said. "To do so, every member of the 59th Medical Wing must continue to demonstrate a strong team spirit and willingness to implement positive change and process improvement. I know we have that positive, can-do spirit, and we will succeed in our vital mission."

During the ceremony, General Lorenz recognized the achievements of the 59th MDW and its previous commander, Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas Travis, and presented General Travis with the Distinguished Service Medal.

"Tom ... your ceaseless efforts to combine the two largest Department of Defense medical facilities, Wilford Hall and Brooke Army Medical Center, has laid the foundational groundwork towards the final steps of key integration efforts," General Lorenz said. "Under your leadership, the 59th has supported Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, with the theater's largest trauma hospital. In addition ... the 59th has provided flawless relief efforts during humanitarian missions in Haiti, Chili and Guyana."

General Lorenz further explained that while the 59th MDW prepared for one of the largest Base Realignment and Closure initiatives, and continuously deployed countless Airmen each year, the wing also received the Air Force Outstanding Unit award the past three years.

"I want to express my pride in the men and women of the 59th Medical Wing for your dedication and commitment to service. The United States Air Force can confidently fight today's wars and provide needed humanitarian relief around the world, knowing you are there to care for them if needed," General Lorenz said. "You have proven yourself when our nation calls, and continue to do so every day."