MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Cmdr. Rachel D. Haltner assumed command of the Branch Medical Clinic from Cmdr. Don Albia in a change of command ceremony, Friday.
Albia, who has led the staff at BMC in providing outstanding medical service to Iwakuni residents since June 2001, will take charge of BMC Maypoint, Fla.
Haltner graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and chemistry. In 1988, she was conferred a degree of Master of Science in environmental and public health with a minor emphasis in administrative management from the University of Wisconsin.
Haltner was commissioned into the Navy in 1988, and was initially assigned for duty to the Navy Environmental Health Center in Norfolk, Va., as an industrial hygiene officer where she served two years. Her first operational assignment was a split tour where she served first as assistant safety officer and industrial hygiene officer aboard the USS America for one year, then the USS Enterprise for nearly two years.
As the first female to be regularly assigned to either ship, she completed all requirements for underway watch standing, both in engineering and navigation. She then volunteered for a follow-on sea tour aboard the USS Yosemite where she served as the safety department head during the ship's participation in Operation Desert Storm. There, she was designated as a surface warfare medical department officer.
In 1994, Haltner returned to Norfolk to assume duties as executive officer of the Naval Occupational Safety and Health, and Environmental Training Center. Following a three-year tour, she was assigned as the Force IHO on the staff of Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. She began a near four-year tour at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va. in August 2000. She initially served as assistant and then acting director for Health, Safety and Environmental Services.
Following that, she served as product line leader for Immunizations, team leader for Chemical and Biological Exposure Disaster Preparedness Team, and, for the past two years, as service line leader for Preventive Care and Wellness. Deployed with Fleet Hospital One Five, First Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, she served as department head of Occupational Health, Safety, Environmental, and Chemical and Biological Warfare.
Haltner has received the Captain Ernest Brown Award for excellence in Occupational Health and the Chief of Naval Operations Jerry Shultz Award for outstanding contributions to Industrial Hygiene. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society for academic and professional excellence and was recognized by the University of Wisconsin as Alumni of the Year.
Haltner's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, and various unit and campaign medals and ribbons. She is married to retired Navy Capt. Russell E. Tate of Phoenix, Ariz. The couple has two children, Grace and Erik.
"I'm thrilled to be here at Branch Medical Clinic," Haltner said after the ceremony. "This is one of the finest installations in Asia. I'm proud to be serving with this group of people, and to be here for this base."
Haltner said she was honored to assume command from Albia.
"The clinic has had great leadership under Cmdr. Albia," she said. "He is an outstanding Naval officer, definitely deserving of all the accolades."
Col. Dave Darrah, Station commanding officer, affirmed Haltner's comments, stating Albia will be missed.
"Many of the tenant units often remind me that they are tenant units and ask for a lot of things," Darrah said. "Cmdr. Albia and the staff at the Branch Medical Clinic have never had that persona. He always acted just as a member of the community, trying to figure out how to better serve the Station. He never reminded me that he was a tenant, and I think that has made him one of the better leaders on this Station and has made our success with the BMC that much greater."
In addition to overseeing the comprehensive and continuous health care of the Iwakuni community, Albia established himself as an integral part of the lives of Station residents.
"I'm going to miss this place," said Albia. "I'm starting to miss it already just because of the many friends, not only here inside this base, but also out in town. I've been able to go to a lot of their homes and truly experience their culture."
Albia said his staff was crucial to the accomplishment of his job during his tour here.
"The people that work for me have really made my success while I've been here at Iwakuni," Albia said. "We have such a great staff. They really care for the people on this base."
Haltner looks forward to leading that staff for the next three years.
"We've got a lot to look forward to as we continue to provide care for the Marines, Sailors and civilians here," she said. "I've got a great team and I'm looking forward to leading them forward."