New commander takes charge of 23rd MDG

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte Brantley
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Col. Mark Koppen assumed command of the 23rd Medical Group from Col. Loraine Anderson during a change of command ceremony here July 21.

Col. Gary Henderson, 23rd Wing commander, presided over the ceremony. Other distinguished guests who attended the ceremony included various Moody group and squadron commanders as well as Parker Greene, Moody Support Committee executive director, and his wife, Dr. Lucy Greene.

Colonel Koppen's previous assignment was deputy commander of the 99th Medical Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. He is accompanied here by his wife Carrie and their daughters, Kali and Brittany. 

He is board-certified as a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as chief of medical programming at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.

"This is an awesome opportunity to assume command of a unit that obviously works as a cohesive and effective team," said Colonel Koppen. "The 23rd MDG has done a fine job balancing the peacetime healthcare mission and wartime mission. Those working here have recently helped achieve great scores on two major inspections.

"There is still a great deal of unrest in the world and we cannot afford to rest on past accomplishments," he said. "Many threats and challenges remain and I promise to work right alongside you as we meet them with all the military and medical skills we have honed very well. I am incredibly proud to be an American Airman and I look forward to our future together."

Colonel Anderson served as the commander of the 23rd MDG for approximately three years and is slated to become the 88th Medical Group squadron commander of diagnostics and therapeutics at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Under her command, the medical group was rated number one in Air Combat Command for 28 consecutive months for streamlining the appointment process. Additionally, a fast track clinic, staffed by nurses, was created and as a result more than $750,000 has been saved. During its first year, the program also helped nurses assist more than 2,500 patients.

"I consider this the greatest medical group ever, and together we have accomplished so much," said Colonel Anderson. "In my time here, a lot of work has been credited to me, but the men and women of the 23rd MDG are the ones who made it happen. It's truly been a great experience serving with the mighty Flying Tiger medics."