Delaware National
Guard
166th Medical Squadron changes
commandBy Tech. Sgt. Benjamin J. Matwey, 166th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Col. Robert Gallagher, a Doctor of Osteopathy, has
been the commander the 166th Medical Squadron for 10 years. A traditional
air guardsman, he has been involved in medicine for nearly 25 years, and
has served the U.S. armed forces for nearly 25 years, with past military
service
in the Army and the Air Force, before his Delaware Air
Guard duty. He retired in a change-of-command ceremony held on base September
15, 2002.
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Outgoing commander of the 166th Medical/Dental Squadron, Dr. (Col.) Robert Gallagher, retired after 25 years military service in the medical field. With him are granddaughter Emily and his wife, Joanne. (Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Strouss, 166th Communications Flight.) |
"Col. Gallagher’s skills, both as a medical professional and as a manager of people, were needed at a critical time for the entire Wing," said Col. Ron Mehan, Wing Commander, 166th Airlift Wing. A lot of demands were placed on our medical staff, and we had to try to keep as many medical people as we could, and rebuild in other areas. Col. Gallagher led us through that crucial period. It took leadership to do that, added Mehan.
Dr. (Col.) Gallagher is the author of the book Drug Therapy for Headache, and co-edited the book Osteopathic Medicine: A Reformation in Progress. He is the author of a multitude of articles on headache cures and treatments. For many years he had a private medical office, but since 1989 has worked for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, based in Stratford, NJ, where he is the Dean of the School of Osteopathic Medicine, and also the Director of the University Headache Center.
The Medical Squadron handles a variety of medical tasks for the 1,000 citizen airmen and women of the Delaware Air Guard. The unit conducts physical and dental exams, performs immunizations, and has offices for optometry, pharmacy, mental health, laboratory, and bioenvironmental matters. The mission performed by the squadron is vital to ensuring a healthy and ready workforce, meeting the standards of the Air Force to be deployable worldwide, for all airmen from flight crew to ground crew, in all units and squadrons.
Lt. Col. John Mulvey, who joined the unit nine years ago, soon after Col. Gallagher had assumed command, now takes command of the 166 MDS.
"Nine years ago, pretty much on this very date, I joined this unit. Col. Gallagher was in charge, and he has done a marvelous job leading us to greatness," said Mulvey. "We will not only look back to maintain the success we’ve achieved; but also, more importantly, we will be straining forward to a new horizon and new challenges.
"We have already picked up the pace of readiness training with enthusiastic mass casualty exercises during drills. Stay with us, and be ready for action. We will train you to practice medicine like no medicine you will perform in civilian life, either inpatient or outpatient," said Mulvey.
He closed by saying "I look forward with relish to the opportunity to
lead the finest group of medics it has been my pleasure to work with in
twenty years of military experience. Give us the tools, and watch us
fly!"