49th Medical Group welcomes new commander

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Phil Ventura
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The 49th Medical Group formally welcomed their 18th commander since the group's inception, in a ceremony at the base Enlisted Club July 2. 

With his wife, Patricia and extended family in attendance, Col. Chris Torres assumed the command that now-retired Col. Matt Adkins relinquished April 23. 

"Today I am honored and humbled to command the 49th Medical Group, I consider it the pinnacle of my career," Col. Torres said. "I give a lot of credit to my former commanders, mentors and my family." 

The colonel challenged his group to build on their strengths to provide great medical care in the face of challenges such as budget and personnel cuts. 

"I pledge to be fair and impartial and be a good steward of our resources," he said. 

Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, 49th Fighter Wing commander, presided over the ceremony and said that the colonel is, "Focused, professional and dedicated to the mission of our Air Force." 

He also lauded the efforts of Lt. Col. Richard Baker, who served as the interim medical group commander between the retirement of Col. Adkins and the July 2 assumption of command. 

Some recent successes of the 49th Medical Group include: earning the highest rating, excellent, on the annual Health Services Inspection; leading the base's school partnership initiative; running a wing-wide company grade officer's mentorship program; preparing more than 5,500 Airmen for deployment and providing millions of patient visits.