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Madigan ceremony welcomes new leader

Photo by Tawny M. Dotson Lt. Col. Ralph Deatherage, new commander of the Troop Command Battalion, accepts the unit’s colors from Col. (Dr.) Dallas W. Homas, Madigan Healthcare System Commander during the change of command ceremony held July 8. Deathera

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Madigan Healthcare System's Troop Command welcomed its new commander during a change of command ceremony July 8 at Watkins Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Van Steenvort relinquished command of the 1,600 member battalion to Lt. Col. Ralph Deatherage. Van Steenvort will report to U.S. Army Medical Command for his next assignment.

Colonel (Dr.) Dallas Homas, commander of Madigan Healthcare System, presided over the change of command ceremony and acknowledged the battalion's outgoing commander for a job well done during the ceremony.

"I have never been more inspired by a junior officer than I have been by Jon Van Steenvort," Homas said at the ceremony. "He recently completed a full Iron Man. More than 15 hours of cardio activity. I can't imagine it. You are an inspiration."

Homas went on to thank Van Steenvort for his many contributions to ensuring all Soldiers within Madigan were well trained and prepared to deliver values-based, standards-driven health care.

"No matter what happens to me the rest of my days, no matter where I go, my time at Madigan as your troop battalion commander, with you, has been the highlight of my life. The greatest legacy a leader can leave to his Army is a well trained staff with the confidence to lead," Van Steenvort said.

Van Steenvort took command in July of 2009 after serving as the S1, 62nd Medical Brigade here at Fort Lewis. He has also served as S5 Plans, Task Force 62nd Medical Brigade, Multi-National Corps-Iraq for 15 months. Prior to that, he was the first operations officer in the Directorate of Personnel at the office of the Army surgeon general.

Deatherage, a Washington state native, comes to Madigan with a diverse Army background. He began his time in the Army as an enlisted infantryman, went to the United States Military Academy Prep School and United States Military Academy at West Point. He started as a platoon leader when he commissioned. He has been a medical service corps officer for more than 17 years. He has commanded companies, served at the regional and major command levels.

"Yours is a reputation of upholding our most cherished values while exceeding our Army's highest standards. I am honored beyond words to take my place as your commander today. Together we will maintain that reputation and will seek out new challenges and will surmount them. Thank you and let's get to work," said Deatherage.

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