Giancarlo Casem
Airmen from the 412th Medical Group officially welcomed their new commander, Col. Mary Carnduff, during an Assumption of Command ceremony on Edwards Air Force Base, California, July 15.
Carnduff takes command of the Medical Group that provides the delivery of medical, dental, emergency, pharmaceutical and ancillary care services to 16,000 beneficiaries in support of the 412th Test Wing, the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA and 54 tenant units.
“You are supporting the 412th Test Wing mission; all the various roles responsibilities that you have, are as extensive as they are invaluable to our team,” Col. Douglas Wickert, 412th Test Wing Commander, said to Carnduff. “So here in the Mojave Desert, the Medical Group provides the sole source of care in what is also frankly, a medical desert. You are also maintaining your clinical skills at the very high pinnacle of excellence.”
Carnduff previously served with the 316th Surgical Operations Squadron as Director of Surgical Services for Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Carnduff is also a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and fully mission-qualified flight physician.
“I believe Air Power is a team sport, and on a team attitude is everything. How you approach every situation, every problem, every opportunity determines your success and your failure, and we succeed or fail as a team,” Carnduff said as she addressed the 412th MDG Airmen in attendance. “All I ask is this: every single day, you all come to work and do your best to take care of our warfighters, our families and each other, that's all. And I promise in return, every single day, I will do my absolute best to take care of you.”
Col. Douglas Wickert, 412th Test Wing Commander, passes the 412th Medical Group guidon to Col. Mary Carnduff, the new 412th MDG commander, during an Assumption of Command ceremony on Edwards Air Force Base, California, July 15. (Air Force photo by C.J. Raterman)