Med Group activates two new squadrons

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Richard
  • Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --  Two squadrons in the 99th Medical Group were activated during a ceremony here Aug. 10.

The 99th Inpatient Operations Squadron and the 99th Surgical Operations Squadron became the two newest medical squadrons at the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital.
Col. Christian Benjamin, 99th Medical Group commander, charged the new squadron commanders with this mission: "To provide the best critical care to yesterday's heroes, today's heroes and those families who supported them while they served our country."

The 99th Inpatient Operations Squadron was the first of the two squadrons activated. The squadron consists of two flights, a medical inpatient flight and a critical care flight, which provides and arranges for the full scope of inpatient clinical health care services.

Col. Lori Macias assumed command of the 99th Inpatient Operations Squadron. Colonel Macias comes to this assignment from Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., where she was the nurse consultant, clinical quality operation division.

"I'm humbled by being selected as the very first inpatient operations squadron commander," Colonel Macias said. "Let's have all eyes on the 99th Med Group -- we will set the new bar of excellence."

The 99th Surgical Operations Squadron was the second medical squadron activated. It consists of four flights, including an anesthesia flight, an operating room services flight, a surgical specialty flight and a women's health flight.

"I'm thrilled to be one of the pioneers standing up the 99th Surgical Operations Squadron," said the incoming commander, Col. David J. Mietzner, the former 99th Aerospace Medicine Squadron deputy commander and optometry flight commander here. He said the squadron activation made it "a great day for Nellis Air Force Base and the complex missions we serve."

With the activation of the two squadrons, the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital becomes one the few growing hospitals in the Air Force. This hospital provides crucial training to the Air Force's medical personnel before they deploy.

"Our hospital will be one of those significant hospitals where we will train and take care of critically ill patients so we can then go forward into a combat situation, wherever we're needed in the world, to provide that critical care to the men and women that are fighting in the wars abroad," said Colonel Benjamin.