PIRMASENS, Germany – Leaders at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Europe bid farewell and recog-nized the 28-year military career of its outgoing commander, Col. Jonathan B. Butler, during a Change of Command ceremony on July 9.

Butler, who is retiring, has spent the last two years at USAMMC-E, a direct reporting unit to Army Medical Logistics Command and integral source of med-ical materiel support during the recent COVID-19 response. During his remarks, Butler thanked his family, fellow leaders, organizational

partners and the USAMMC-E workforce, saying it has been a “true honor” leading and serving alongside some of the “best staff” in the organization’s history. “Your response to all this was ab-solutely amazing,” he said, pointing to efforts during the COVID-19 response efforts on top of USAMMC-E’s other missions as theater lead agent of med-ical materiel (TLAMM) across Europe and Africa. As the TLAMM, USAMMC-E plans, synchronizes and provides medical logistics support to the warfighters

and their Families in U.S. Army Europe Command, U.S. Army Central Command and U.S. Army Africa Command, as well as the Department of State. That mission took on additional im-portance earlier this year as the nation responded to the global health crisis, which AMLC Commander Col. Michael

Lalor highlighted during his remarks. Lalor said USAMMC-E team – strong in its capabilities, yet small in numbers – issued over 1 million sets of personal protective equipment, diagnostic test kit materiel and critical pharmaceuticals across all three com-batant commands. Working around the clock to support its customers and military units, USAMMC-E executed nearly 1,300

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USAMMC-E says farewell to retiring commander during Change of Command ceremony

Col. Shane Roach, USAMMC-E’s new commander, speaks during the Change of Command ceremony on July 9 in Pirmasens, Germany. (U.S. Army photo by Holger Koelsch/Released)

COMMAND NEWS!

“They integrated with the entire sustainment and joint enterprise to move medical materiel

quicker, and they did, maximizing every platform available to them. And no one could have done

it better than Jon Butler and his team.”Col. Michael Lalor, AMLC commander

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shipments moving over 750,000 pounds of medical materiel in March and April alone. “They integrated with the entire sustainment and joint enterprise to move medical materiel quicker, and they did, maximizing every platform available to them,” Lalor said. “And no one could have done it better than Jon Butler and his team.” The missions of AMLC and USAMMC-E are never easy, Lalor added, but Butler’s leadership helped

the center rise to “new heights” as he tirelessly worked problems and hit targets along the way to positively impact the organization’s partners and customers. “I am so proud of this USAMMC-E team, and I thank you for being their leader – and a great one – all along the ride,” Lalor said. “We wish you and your Family all the best as you execute a change of mission and set out on a new adventure.” The ceremony also served to wel-come USAMMC-E’s new commander, Col. Shane Roach, who comes to the organization by way of San Antonio, Texas, where he last served as Training and Doctrine Command’s Army Health Care Systems Capability manager.

Roach said he looks forward to being a proactive leader who can build on Butler’s success. In a nod to former President Theodore Roosevelt, Roach pledged to “do what I can, with what I have, where I am.” Lalor said Roach “is the right leader at the right time for this outstanding unit.” “The Soldiers and civilians of this great organization are ready, proud and battle tested,” he added. “They stand with their new commander today, ready to answer the nation’s call and write the next chapter of USAMMC-E history.”

As for history, Butler candidly talked about his personal journey that led to a nearly three-decade military career, including 26 years in active duty. His proudest memories, he said, stem from creating a culture of lead-ership development and training at USAMMC-E, while seeing the tremen-dous growth of individuals and teams during his tenure. “If I had to do this journey all over again, I wouldn’t change it,” Butler said.

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“If I had to do this journey all over again, I wouldn’t change it.”

Col. Jonathan B. Butler, outgoing USAMMC-E commander Col. Doug LeVien, right, passes the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center-Europe’s colors to

incoming commander, Col. Shane Roach, during a Change of Command ceremony on July 9. Outgoing commander Col. Jonathan B. Butler can be seen in the background. LeVien, deputy commander of 21st Theater Sustainment Command, served as the representative for Col. Michael Lalor, commander of Army Medical Logistics Command. Lalor presided over the ceremony remotely from Fort Detrick, Maryland. (U.S. Army photo by Holger Koelsch/Released)

Monday, August 3rd is National Watermelon Day!

D I D YO U K N O W ?

3MEDLOG MONTHLY / August 2020

COVID-19 response solidifies medical logistical partnerships, training opportunities FORT DETRICK, Md. – Biomedical equipment specialists from the U.S. Army’s 6th Medical Logistics Manage-ment Center partnered with the U.S. Army Medical Logistics Command to meet the growing maintenance requirements of COVID-19. The Soldiers deployed to the Medical Maintenance Operations Divisions (MMODs) run by the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency, a direct reporting unit of AMLC, to boost workforces and move lifesaving devices, such as ventilators, quickly through the system. In teams of three, the Soldiers worked alongside military, civilian and contractor technicians at USAMMA’s MMODs at Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania, Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Defense Distribution Center in Tracy, California.

While helping tackle the mounting workload – more than double the average number of work orders – the Soldiers also gained valuable depot-level maintenance training during their two-month deployment, according to Jack Rosarius, director of USAMMA’s Medical Maintenance Management Directorate. Rosarius said the group are now “force multipliers” within the Army

medical maintenance community. Through early June, the Soldiers worked on devices such as ventilators, patient vital-sign monitors, defibril-lators and oxygen generators, in support of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. “Each of us was paired up with a subject-matter expert to allow for one-on-one training and answering questions,” said Sgt. Katherine Sherman,

team leader at MMOD-Hill. “We were able to learn an incredible amount in our two months on site.” Sgt. Jacob Ferguson, who led the team at MMOD-Tracy, called the experience “phenomenal.” He said he was grateful for the opportunity, which builds on a previous visit to MMOD- Tobyhanna a few years ago when he

Spc. Nguyenquanghu Phan repairs a ventilator at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency’s Medical Maintenance Operations Division at Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania during a recent deployment to supplement the workforce during the COVID-19 response as USAMMA’s three depots saw spikes in work order requests. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Presto/Released)

“Each of us was paired up with a subject-

matter expert to allow for one-on-one training

and answering questions. We were able to learn an incredible amount in our

two months on site.”

Sgt. Katherine Sherman, 6th Medical Logistics Management Center

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worked with lab equipment technicians. “This helped us further understand the capabilities across each MMOD,” Ferguson said. “...The instructors were very knowledgeable. While intimidated at first, my team and I feel confident performing depot-level services.” Ferguson, Sgt. Trevor Nelms and Pfc. Dangelo Brown racked up over 1,500 hours at MMOD-Tracy, working 10 to 12 hours per day, six days a week. The trio was integral to the depot team completing over 200 maintenance operations for various medical devices. The MMOD-Tobyhanna team – comprised of team leader Staff Sgt. Derek Presto, Spc. Nguyenquanghu Phan and Pfc. Kurtis Geer – clocked

another 1,200 hours as they supported over 200 more work orders. The team provided direct ventilator service support to an Army hospital set up at the Javits Center in New York, along with 22 other states in support of the COVID-19 response. At MMOD-Hill, Sherman teamed with Sgt. Casey Sims and Spc. Charles Roberts to work over 1,000 hours of labor on different medical devices, helping to complete over 2,200 work orders and keep pace with mission requirements. Jose Vasquez, division chief at MMOD-Hill, said the Soldiers were able to quickly blend into the depot team, exhibiting a strong work ethic and attitude that helped not only tackle

high work order requirements but turn them around in very short order. Vasquez highlighted the team’s efforts in supporting quick turnarounds on ventilators and oxygen generation machines, the latter being a specialty to MMOD-Hill. “There were several other urgent requests which required the strategic movement of technicians throughout the shop to ensure all requirements

were completed efficiently and within the required deadlines,” he said. Vasquez noted the Soldiers resil-iency and professional attitude, which helped maintain high morale and overall group cohesion toward the mission goal. “Medical logistics is a team sport,” said Col. Ross Davidson, 6th MLMC commander. “The 6th MLMC is here to support the medical logistics enterprise in order to best serve the Army, the DOD and the Nation.” “It is important that we recognize the hard work of these Soldiers who executed thousands of hours of com-bined labor in order to repair medical devices and support the operating force,” said AMLC Commander Col. Michael Lalor. “The relationship be-tween the AMLC, USAMMA and 6th MLMC has never been stronger, and this is just one example of how we are coming together to combine our capa-bilities and accomplish the mission.”

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Sgt. Katherine Sherman works on a portable oxygen generator at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency’s Medical Maintenance Operations Division at Hill Air Force Base in Utah during a recent deployment to supplement the workforce during the COVID-19 response as USAMMA’s three depots saw spikes in work order requests. (U.S. Army photo by Chris Jones/Released)

“The relationship between the AMLC, USAMMA and 6th

MLMC has never been stronger, and this is just one example of how we are coming together to

combine our capabilities and accomplish the mission.”

Col. Michael Lalor, AMLC commander

The AMLC Family wishes Sgt. 1st Class Lamont Mitchell, left, the best and thanks him for his service as USAMMA’s detachment sergeant for the past two years. Mitchell’s next assignment has taken him to Hawaii, where he will serve as inspector general non-commissioned officer with the 25th Infantry Division.

At the same time, the organization welcomes Staff Sgt. Shakina Lewis, a recent graduate of the Medical Logistics Management Internship Program at Fort Detrick. Lewis transitioned into the her new role as detachment sergeant on July 13.

USAMMA detachment sergeant transition

Sgt. 1st Class Lamont Mitchell

Onward and

5MEDLOG MONTHLY / August 2020

Staff Sgt. Shakina Lewis

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563rd Medical Company Logistics participates in a team building event in Daegu. One proud supporter comments:

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S O C I A L M E D I A H I G H L I G H T

USAMMC-K conducts an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise to improve

readiness and deter complacency by conducting full inspection of all equipment including: weapon

systems, communication equipment, tactical vehicles, tents and storage containers.

S O C I A L M E D I A H I G H L I G H T

“The Army’s most lethal and ready Medical Logistics Company, 563rd!”[ [

6MEDLOG MONTHLY / August 2020