DVIDS – News – Otto takes command of 123rd Medical Group

Col. Hans F. Otto assumed command of the 123rd Medical Group throughout a ceremony on the Kentucky Air Nationwide Guard Base right here Sept. 11, changing Col. Michael A. Cooper, who’s retiring.

Otto, a medical physician and 25-year army veteran, final served as commander of the U.S. Air Drive Reserve’s 445th Aerospace Drugs Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Drive Base, Ohio. The 445th helps greater than 2,000 army members from two wings and a number of geographically separated items.

Col. Bruce Bancroft, commander of the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing, welcomed Otto to the bottom, calling him an distinctive chief.

“Col. Otto brings a particularly spectacular resume to the stage in the present day,” Bancroft advised the viewers. “From chief of Inside Drugs at Osan Airbase, South Korea, to medical director at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; from a fellowship at Wilford Corridor, to chief of Aerospace Drugs at Wright-Patterson Air Drive Base, Ohio, Col. Otto brings a wealth of expertise to this wing.

“He is made a distinction with each project. And as we wish to say round right here, he has the metallic to show it: doctor of the 12 months, greatest specialty clinic of the 12 months, main care clinic of the 12 months, squadron of the 12 months, simply to call a couple of.

“Hans, for the quick time I’ve recognized you, I already know that you just attribute all these accolades to the unimaginable Airmen in your cost,” Bancroft continued. “However these awards do not occur with out strong management. The management that you just carry to the desk and the management that you’ve got impressed in your groups is quickly obvious. I sit up for the heights we’ll take our medical group within the coming years.”

Cooper, who’s stepping down after a army profession spanning greater than three a long time, known as Otto “a person of super character.”

“These of you who’ve had the prospect to get to know him already can see that his resume is completely impeccable,” Cooper mentioned. “He’s somebody with whom I’ve shared a friendship now for 11 years, beginning once we served collectively on the 445th. I needed to have somebody together with his character and together with his potential to ensure that me to show (command) over in the present day.

“I’m so proud to have the ability to flip that guidon over to you in the present day, Col. Otto. Godspeed. I want you the perfect as you’re taking this unit to the following degree.”

Cooper, who served as commander of the 123rd Medical Group since 2014, then relinquished the group’s guidon to Bancroft, who bestowed it upon Otto, formally recognizing the switch of energy.

Otto expressed appreciation to his household for his or her help, and to Cooper for his a long time of superior management.

“I would wish to thanks to your tireless work these final 30 years, and for the wonderful instance that you’ve got set,” Otto mentioned, addressing Cooper immediately.

For the Airmen of the 123rd Medical Group, Otto promised a transparent path ahead — centered on mission achievement and personnel growth.

“As your new commander, I’m humbled by the caliber of individuals right here — the soldiers that I get to go along with. Your dedication to this wing in addition to to the medical group is awe-inspiring. You epitomize these Air Drive core values of integrity first, excellence in all you do and repair earlier than self.

“I’m right here to offer you your course, to inform you my commander’s intent, after which to take away obstacles so that you can obtain these targets,” he mentioned. “We’ll get there collectively, and we are going to give attention to the commander’s priorities, (that are) threefold. We’ve got a peace-time mission of medical care. We’ve got a wartime mission to be prepared for the following battle — and that might be as quickly as tomorrow. And we’ve got a 3rd precedence of creating our Airmen.

“We’ll focus extra on these over the approaching weeks and months,” he added. “However for the remainder of in the present day, I am proud and honored to get to rejoice Col. Cooper.”

Otto holds a bachelor’s diploma in biology from Wright State College, a grasp’s in enterprise administration from the College of Massachusetts and doctorate of drugs from Ohio State College. He’s board licensed in allergy/immunology.

The flight surgeon and doctor acquired his fee in 1997 by the Well being Professions Scholarship Program, and served within the U.S. Air Drive Reserve for the following 4 years whereas attending medical college. Upon commencement in 2001, he entered lively obligation to start a three-year inner medication residency at Wright Patterson Air Drive Base, Ohio. All through his profession, Otto has served in varied roles main main care and specialty clinics, squadrons and deployed expeditionary teams.

In his civilian capability, Otto is medical director of scientific operations, companion and practising allergist/immunologist in what’s now the nation’s second largest allergy/immunology group. He has been acknowledged yearly by Cincinnati Journal as one of many area’s “Prime Docs” since 2013.

The Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Medical Group is comprised of greater than 100 personnel who present medical help to 1,200 Airmen right here. The unit additionally gives fight help to Air Drive items worldwide, in addition to homeland protection and disaster-response capabilities.