JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Alaska Air National Guard Lt. Col. Andrew Adamich succeeded Col. Julie Gration as the 176th Medical Group commander during a March 26 change-of-command ceremony here.
The 176th Medical Group is responsible for the force health management, individual medical readiness and performance enhancement of the operational and support personnel of the 176th Wing.
Under Gration’s leadership, the medical group had the largest mobilization of local members for domestic operations in Alaska in its history.
Gration initiated the fielding of an air-transportable clinic package, a rapidly deployable contingency medical capability, which will contribute to remote medical support throughout the Indo-Pacific theater. The medical group won the governor’s 2021 Distinguished Unit Citation, Governor’s Trophy and the National Guard Association of the United States mission support trophy.
Gration thanked the Airmen for their hard work during her time as commander.
“To the 176th medics, my gratitude to you is boundless,” she said. “As a team, you have always answered the call to serve the great state of Alaska and our nation, you have touched every continent and when much of the world was locked down, you powered through and cared for others. You carried on critical operations in strategic operations across the globe. Thank you for balancing the triad of military service, civilian occupations and your families to support the diverse missions and high operations tempo at the 176th Wing.”
After taking command, Adamich expressed his excitement about leading the group.
“I am confident that I am inheriting a team wired for success,” he said. “The arctic medics provide an essential link in the chain of success within our wing. They promote a healthy and fit force, prevent illness and injury, restore health, and sustain our most valuable asset: our people. Together you demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the readiness of the 1,400 members of our wing.”