1 SOMDOS Change of Command

Col. Donald Molnar, left, commander of the 1st Special Operations Medical Group passes the 1st Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron guidon to Lt. Col. David Byer during the 1st SOMDOS change of command at the 8th Special Operations Squadron auditorium on Hurlburt Field, Fla., June 20, 2013. Byer took command after serving as Air Force senior developmental fellow at Argonne National Laboratory just west of Chicago, Ill. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Parkinson)

1st SOMDOS changes command

Published June 21, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Parkinson
1st Special Operations Wing

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 1st Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron held a change of command ceremony at the 8th Special Operations Squadron auditorium here, June 20.

Lt. Col. Christopher Patrick passed the 1st SOMDOS guidon to Col. Donald Molnar, 1st Special Operations Medical Group commander, who then presented the guidon to Lt. Col. David Byer, the next 1st SOMDOS commander.

"What an honor it has been to command the men and women of the [1st SOMDOS]," Patrick said. "You are by far the most talented and dedicated Airman and civilians I have ever worked with. You've faced every challenge head on and succeeded."

As the ceremony concluded, the Air Commandos sang the Air Force song and had refreshments with their commanders.

"I'd like to thank Col. [Jim] Slife and Col. [Donald] Molnar for allowing me to have this incredible opportunity," Byer said.

The 1st SOMDOS promotes and maintains the health of 8,000 active-duty, reserve, civilian personnel, and 22,000 beneficiaries.

Byers received a direct commission in 1993 in the Air Force Medical Service. He served as an Army officer, a bioenvironmental engineer, a flight commander, and a research and development division chief. He is joining Hurlburt Field after serving as an Air Force senior developmental education fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, located west of Chicago, Ill.