45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Welcomes New Commander

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Colonel Thomas Pemberton, commander of the 927th Operations Group, turned over command of the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron to Lt. Col. Deborah Saltmarsh during an assumption of command ceremony at the 45th AES headquarters July 13, 2012.

The outgoing commander was Lt. Col. C.J. Newhouse, who commanded the unit during humanitarian operations in Haiti during 2010. She is taking command of 452nd AES at March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

"The 45th was tasked with supporting Haitian relief efforts and succeeded," said Pemberton. "Col. Newhouse's performance during that time will be fondly remembered."
Saltmarsh joins the 45th AES from the 94th AES, stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., where she commanded that unit for the past two years.

"I've worked for a long time to get this job," Saltmarsh said to the attendees at the ceremony. "It's my dream job in the reserves and I look forward to being commander here."

Pemberton echoed her sentiments and said he has high expectations for the new commander.

"You've done great work throughout your career, and I know you'll come through for us here."

The mission of the reserve squadron includes in-flight medical care aboard military aircraft used to airlift patients. Members of the 45th AES fulfill this mission around the world today.