Camp Shelby REVEILLE Page 3 Lt. Col Brett Venable takes …

1 Thursday, July 11, 2013 Camp Shelby REVEILLE Page 3. Lt. Col Brett Venable takes over medical Task Force By STAFF SGT. KENNY HATTEN. CSJFTC Public Affairs medical Task Force Shelby con- ducted a change of command cer- emony June 25 at Building 1402, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Train- ing Center. Outgoing MTFS Commander Col. James D. Grady relinquished command of the unit to Lt. Col. Brett H. Venable , the event being symbolized by the ceremonial passing of the unit colors, and hosted by the Commander of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army medical Center, Col. Christopher M. Castle. Jim Grady is a serious and committed Soldier and physician who has been dragging his young Family around the planet through a series of demanding and compet- itive assignments, said Castle. He also deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom as an Opera- tions Task Force Surgeon. No other could have commanded this Task Force these past few years. He served with distinction as the commander here.. Castle welcomed Venable as the new commander, and expressed great con dence in his ability to lead medical Task Force Shelby into the future.

2 Venable has 18 years of service and an equally impressive resume coming in here, said Castle. He is another ne leader for this or- ganization. Col. Grady is indeed a tough act to follow but I am con - dent that Venable is up to the task.. As he relinquished command, Grady thanked the Soldiers of MTF-S for their outstanding serv- ice and compassion in the course of their duties. Thanks to the staff and Soldiers of MTF-S for making the last two Photos by Staff Sgt. Kenny Hatten, CSJFTC Public Affairs Top photo, Lt. Col. Venable accepts the rst salute of his new command from Executive Of cer Lt. Col. Amy Ninneman following the change of command ceremony at years the most rewarding of my CSJFTC. Above left, the Commander of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army medical Center, Col. Christopher Castle, presents the MTF-S unit guidon to incoming medical career, said Grady. I'm so proud Task Force Shelby Commander Lt. Col. Brett Venable during the change of command ceremony June 25. Above right, Col.

3 Castle, left, presented outgoing MTF-S. of the staff for always recognizing Commander Col. Grady with the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding meritorious service. the sacri ces of the Soldiers and treating them as if they would look forward to serving you, he Biology and was commissioned as Lt. Col. Venable is a native of and a Master of Public Adminis- want their own Family members to said. Col. Grady was a great com- an Infantry of cer. Portsmouth, Va., and is a distin- tration from the Maxwell School be treated. mander and I'm just going to pick Grady attended the Uniformed guished military graduate of Old of Citizenship and Public Affairs. After assuming command of the up the torch and move the organi- Services University where he re- Dominion University. He received He is accompanied to this new medical task force, Lt. Col. Ven- zation forward. I really look for- ceived his medical degree and his commission in the medical command by his wife, Anja. able spoke to the Soldiers and staff ward to working with the Soldiers commissioning as a medical corps Service Corps while earning a medical Task Force Shelby pro- of his new command.

4 And civilians here at Camp of cer. He completed his resi- Bachelor of Science in Biology, vides compassionate and compre- To the of cers, NCOs, Soldiers Shelby . dency training in family medicine graduating magna cum laude. hensive force health protection and civilians of this Task Force, Col. Grady, has more than at Dewitt Army Community Hos- Venable attended graduate and health service support to mili- I'm immensely proud of the work 22 years of active service as a pital in 2001. He is married to school at Syracuse University tary personnel serving, training, you do every day to support the commissioned of cer. He is a Stephanie Hopp Grady. They have where he earned a Master of Busi- mobilizing and demobilizing at Camp Shelby mission. I'm hon- 1990 graduate of Bucknell Univer- three children, Samuel, age 7, Lil- ness Administration from the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Train- ored to be your commander and sity where he earned a degree in lian, age 5 and Henry, age 2. Whitman School of Management ing Center.

5 Wathen retires after 23 years By DANA ELISE SMITH. CSJFTC Public Affairs A retirement and farewell ceremony was held for Celeste Wathen at the Camp Shelby All Ranks Club July 2. Wathen served 23 years, 10 months ing as an accounting technician under lyst for Headquarters First Army at of service with the Federal government. the Regional Accounting and Disburs- Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Her first Federal position was that of an ing Center. She later worked as a Center in July 2004. Her position later accounting technician in the Comptrol- budget clerk with the Personnel Sup- transitioned under the command of ler's Office at Naval Station Guan- port Activity and then finally as a First Army Division East. tanamo, Cuba from October 1981 budget analyst with the Naval Com- The ceremony was hosted by An- Photo by Dana Elise Smith, CSJFTC Public Affairs through December 1986. In January puter and Telecommunications Station gelena Puckett, who works in the Di- Angelena Puckett from the Directorate of Resource Management and Greg 1987, she continued her career at Naval Gellerman from First Army Division East presented Celeste Wathen with a until she resigned in 1996.

6 She contin- Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla., work- ued her federal career as a budget ana- See RETIRE, Page 6. Civilian Service Award at Wathen s retirement ceremony July 2.