1 SOW welcomes new 1 SOMDG commander

  • Published
  • By Mark Lazane
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Col. Dale Agner assumed command of the 1st Special Operations Medical Group from Col. David Rhodes during a ceremony inside Freedom Hangar here Friday. 

"It's been a great three years," said Colonel Rhodes, who is moving on to become the director for the Residency in Aerospace Medicine program at Brooks City Base in San Antonio. "This is the best job I've ever had." 

"Colonel Rhode's leadership has been nothing short of spectacular," said Col. Gregory Lengyel, 1st Special Operations Wing commander. "If I were to choose three words to describe Colonel Rhodes, they would be: professional, compassionate and dedicated."
However, Colonel Lengyel doesn't feel the medical group is being left in less-capable hands. 

"I can think of no better person to command the 1st SOMG than Colonel Dale Agner," Colonel Lengyel said. 

Colonel Agner comes to Hurlburt Field from the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, at Lackland Air Force Base, where he served as the Air Force Medical Service Chief of Clinical Quality. While there, he oversaw execution of Air Force Surgeon General policies that aimed to support effective quality and prevention-based health care across the continuum for 2.6 million beneficiaries worldwide. 

Colonel Agner is a 1986 graduate of the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, Colonel Agner received a direct commission to the Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences, where he graduated in 1990 with a Doctorate of Medicine degree.
Colonel Agner's previous assignments include attending Air War College in residence at Maxwell AFB, Ala., commander of the 42nd Medical Operations Squadron, also at Maxwell AFB and Chief Consultant for Family Medicine Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Bolling AFB, Washington. 

"The strength of our mission comes from a lot more than leadership," Colonel Agner said. "It comes from the people. Our strength is in the disciplines of the core values."