Photo By Julius Evans | For the first time, Capt. Mary S. Seymour is saluted as the commanding officer of...... read more read more
FREDERICK, Md. - Two tours of duty ago, Mary S. Seymour held the rank of commander and was Naval Medical Logistics Command’s executive officer. On Sept. 5, she returned as a captain and as the commanding officer.
In a ceremony featuring special guest speaker Rear Adm. Donald R. Gintzig, acting deputy surgeon general, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Capt. Seymour took the reins of command from Capt. James B. Poindexter III with the simple phrase, “I am ready to relieve you sir.” With that, she read her orders. “When directed, detach from (student) National War College, and report as commanding officer of Naval Medical Logistics Command, signed Commander Navy Personnel Command."
Yet, leading to the changeover were a number of lively and emotional speeches and testimonies, starting with Rear Adm. Gintzig.
“Bernie has done everything we have asked of him and he has done it efficiently, on schedule, and in many instances, on or under budget,” Gintzig quipped.
“In fact, he may be the only officer that I know in the Pentagon of whom I can actually make that claim,” he said to a crowd roaring with laughter.
“In an unprecedented medical equipment initiative, Capt. Poindexter was responsible for three mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems being acquired and sent to Afghanistan to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury,” Gintzig said. “Nothing like this had ever been attempted before and Bernie ensured it went off flawlessly.”
The admiral went on to explain how Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) has the most unique role in the United States Navy, ensuring that all forces afloat and military treatment facilities around the globe have world-class medical equipment on-hand that is necessary to treat our nation’s warfighters and their family members.
The outgoing commander appreciated the kind words.
“It has truly been an extraordinary honor and privilege to serve as the commanding officer of Naval Medical Logistics Command over the last three years and I could spend considerable time today talking about our significant accomplishments and value to Navy Medicine,” Capt. Poindexter said. “But I prefer to look forward, over the horizon, because in my view, NMLC’s future is bright and secure.”
When he spoke of a bright future, he was inevitably making reference to his relief.
“Capt. Seymour, I can’t think of anyone more prepared and ready for command than you, and I am absolutely confident you will lead Naval Medical Logistics Command through the challenges ahead, along our journey of continue process improvement and enhanced operational relevance,” Poindexter said, as he ended his remarks and prepared to be relieved of command.
Seymour’s previous command may have well-prepared her for command.
Some of her former duties have included comptroller at the Annapolis Naval Medical Clinic and department head for the Materials Management and Management Information also in Annapolis; Navy Personnel Command’s technical adviser for all staff corps promotion selection boards and as the branch head for all officer selection boards, both in Millington, Tenn. She was director for resources at the U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain, and U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Since 2009, she has served as the Medical Service Corps financial management specialty leader.
She attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., earning a Master of Science degree in management specializing in financial management and in June 2013, she earned her second Master of Science degree in national security strategy from the National War College.
As she addressed the crowd and two of her previous commanding officers from NMLC, she spoke to them directly.
“Both of you know I love being a comptroller, but you allowed me to widen my aperture and develop a passion for being a logistician. I’m sorry, a logtroller,” she said.
Her reference to her experience as a comptroller and a logistician resonated with the audience.
“NMLC has proven that it is an agile force capable of providing logistics and acquisition support to Navy and Marine Corps customers at home and abroad and a willing partner to its Air Force and Army counterparts, ensuring that today’s warfighters are always the first priority,” Capt. Seymour continued. “As we embark on our new journey together, resource constraints and the Defense Health Agency transition will inevitably impact the way we conduct business and present us with many unique challenges and opportunities.”
But for now, those challenges and opportunities will just include re-acclimating herself to the day-to-day activities of Navy Medicine’s center of logistics expertise, responsible to design, execute, and administer individualized state-of-the-art solutions to meet customers’ medical materiel and healthcare service needs world-wide.
In closing the ceremony Seymour called the command to order and said, “Naval Medical Logistics Command, all standing orders, policies, regulations and instructions remain in effect. Carry out the plan of the day.”
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2013 16:54 |
| Story ID: | 113860 |
| Location: | FREDERICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | FREDERICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | MUNCIE, INDIANA, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 943 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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