Army Col. Rhonda Cornum receives the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center guidon
while assuming command of LRMC during a change of command ceremony.
U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Phillip Breedlove Jr.
LRMC holds ceremony, welcomes Cornum
Friday, July 18, 2003 Kaiserslautern, Germany, by Sgt. Phillip Breedlove Jr.Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
A change of command ceremony was held at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center July 11 to welcome the incoming commander, Army Col. Rhonda Cornum, while honoring the outgoing commander, Army Col. David Rubenstein. Cornum arrives at LRMC after leaving command of the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Fort Bragg, N.C. and attending the National War College.
Rubenstein will become the chief of staff for Europe Regional Medical Command out of Heidelberg, then move on to take command of the 30th Medical Brigade, also out of Heidelberg. Among the many remembrances and accomplishments, Rubenstein says his thoughts turn first to the staff.
"For 21 months, the staff has received, stabilized, treated and returned to home or unit wounded, injured and sick soldiers while being able to keep the doors open to our day-to-day beneficiaries," Rubenstein said.
"America knows about and is justifiably proud of the efforts of Landstuhl's men and women, military and civilian, who are providing the very best healthcare to our wounded, injured and sick warriors from Southwest Asia and the Balkans. I, too, am proud of them."
Cornum is the first female commander of LRMC since the hospital opened in 1953. She was commissioned into the Army and began a military medical research career in 1978 after receiving her doctorate in nutrition and biochemistry from Cornell University.
Assigned to the Letterman Army Institute of Research, she focused on wound healing metabolism and improving liquid blood preservation and transfusion therapy.
She also deployed as the Medical Task Force commander to Bosnia, and deployed three subordinate units to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. She graduated from the National War College in June 2003.
"It is truly an honor for me to take command here," Cornum said. "LRMC is known to be one of the premier military medicine facilities; compassionate care is seen around the world.
She added, "It isn't buildings or facilities that make Landstuhl so successful, it's people. It's soldiers and civilians, clinicians and support personnel, Army and Air Force and Americans and Germans, all working together, who have formed this team and established this reputation for excellence.
I look forward to serving with you."
