VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. –
Lt. Col. Christy Gambill assumed command of the Fort Pickett-based Virginia Army National Guard Medical Command from Col. David G. Boyd during a ceremony Dec. 3, 2022, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Brig. Gen. K. Weedon Gallagher, the Virginia National Guard Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the change of command ceremony and the exchange of organizational colors signifying the transfer of command from Boyd to Gambill.
“I am truly honored and super excited for this opportunity to take command of such an outstanding group of medical professionals and professional Soldiers,” Gambill said. “I am always impressed and very thankful for your dedication for serving the Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard and this nation.
“Through all the challenges of the last four years- COVID-19 response, the Capitol response, Operation Allies Welcome, helping various units deploy to various theaters of operation, administering the COVID-19 vaccine to all of Virginia, Col. Boyd has been a truly great leader,” she said. “Brig. Gen. Gallagher, I appreciate your confidence in me and entrusting me with the leadership of Medical Command.”
Gallagher noted that Boyd took command in 2018, before COVID-19, and served as commander for four years.
“Your expectations of how command would go were probably wildly different than how it went,” Gallagher said. “It certainly did change during your four years in command but a leader of your caliber was able to reduce these challenges.”
Gallagher congratulated Boyd on his 32-year military career, including 26 years in the Virginia Army National Guard.
“There are opportunities for leaders after 20 years to coast to the end of the career. Many do that,” he said. “But you kept the pedal down the whole time. There was no coasting. As you transition into alumni status we hope we can rely on you to still be a cheerleader for the Guard.”
Gallagher noted the stress on MEDCOM over the past two years and how it compared to other units.
“Other units deployed overseas but their area of operations were pretty well developed and their threats were pretty well known,” he said. “None of that was true when we started wrestling through the pandemic. When we were projecting those forces forward it was not possible without MEDCOM. We will continue to rely on MEDCOM in the future.”
Boyd thanked the chain of command, Gallagher specifically, for the opportunity to serve as commander.
“I feel privileged to have been trusted with this command,” he said. “I very much enjoyed working with the men and women of the Virginia Army National Guard.”
Boyd explained Medical Command has an important mission, to provide medical readiness to the Soldiers of the VAARNG, and the Soldiers are dedicated to completing their mission.
“As commander I watched as you made sure every Soldier in the Virginia Army National Guard and their families had every opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccinations,” he said. “You did this while conducting your normal medical readiness. While COVID disrupted many of the training opportunities, we never stopped doing our work. We just simply got creative and continued to help the Virginia Army National Guard meet their medical readiness requirements.”
Boyd told the Soldiers he was not only honored to have commanded the unit, he was grateful for their hard work and dedication and is confident Gambill will do a great job.
“She’s an outstanding medical officer,” he said. “I’m proud to have served with her and I am confident she will serve MEDCOM and the Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard with excellence.”