380AEW Article

New commander to lead 380th EMDG

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Brig. Gen. Bryan Benson, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, commander, passes the guidon of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group to Col. David Stanczyk as he takes command, July 2 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Colonel Stanczyk comes from Little Rock AFB, Ark. joining the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to lead the 380th EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis)

New commander to lead 380th EMDG

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Col. David Stanczyk is applauded by Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing after he took command of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group during a ceremony, July 2 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Colonel Stanczyk comes from Little Rock AFB, Ark. joining the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to lead the 380th EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis)

New commander to lead 380th EMDG

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Col. David Stanczyk, 380th Expeditionary Medical Group, commander, makes his first speech to Airmen of the 380th EMDG and 380th Air Expeditionary Wing after accepting command during a ceremony, July 2 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Colonel Stanczyk comes from Little Rock AFB, Ark. joining the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to lead the 380th EMDG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis)

380th EMDG welcomes new commander

Published July 6, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 380th Expeditionary Medical Group formally said good-bye to its commander in a ceremony here, July 2.

Col. Dennis Oakes relinquished command of the unit to Col. David Stanczyk, who arrives from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., where he commands the 19th Medical Group. Colonel Oakes will move to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., where he will be the chief nurse.

Colonel Stanczyk graduated with his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry and was immediately commissioned. He has served in a variety of assignments as a general dentistry officer, commander of a dental support flight and dental squadron commander.

During the ceremony, Colonel Stanczyk reaffirmed the medical group's commitment to the care of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's warriors to enable them to continue flying the tasking order.

"The medical group is committed to you," he said. "We need to keep you healthy and on the job to get the mission done."

Colonel Stanczyk also shared with the Medical Group his enthusiasm for joining the team and his expectations of them.

"To the men and women of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group, I'm proud to have this opportunity to join our team," he said. "We have an outstanding staff and I'm positive we'll do great things here. Look for ways to increase our mission impact, improve patient care and improve patient outcomes."

Colonel Stanczyk will command the 380th EMDG for six months and will return to Little Rock AFB when his deployment here is complete.