New commander ready to lead Army Medicine’s largest region leesburg

Regional Health Command-Atlantic (P)

Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs

9275 Doerr Rd., Bldg. 1221

Fort Belvoir, Va. 22060

571-231-5436

December 10, 2015

For Immediate Release


New commander ready to lead Army Medicine’s largest region
LEESBURG, Va.— Stressing the importance of Army Medicine’s role in ensuring that America’s Army is ready to meet challenges today and into the future, Brig. Gen. Ronald J. Place became the new commanding general of Regional Health Command-Atlantic (Provisional), Dec. 8 at the National Conference Center, Leesburg, Virginia.
Place took command of the region from Brig. Gen. Robert D. Tenhet, who served as the region’s commanding general since May 2014. Tenhet will become the deputy surgeon general and deputy commanding general (Support).
“Readiness, which is our mission, is not going to change. Our future is uncertain and that not going to change,” Place told the region’s leaders and senior staff who were in Leesburg for strategic leaders training. “The current international situation only highlights the need for constant vigilance in a dangerous world. Our Army has to be ready and we are part of that,” he continued. “What each of you do every day helps to keep the Army ready.”
Place acknowledged Tenhet’s leadership during a time of transition and organizational realignment. In September, the Army Medical Command reorganized from five regional medical commands to four multi-disciplinary regional health commands creating a single point of accountability for health readiness within each of the four regions. With the reorganization, Regional Health Command-Atlantic became the largest region providing medical, dental and public health support to Soldiers, retirees and their families at Army medical centers, hospitals, and clinics from Wisconsin to Puerto Rico.
“Change isn’t easy and being responsible for that change is the hardest part and you have done an extraordinary job and you are a tough act to follow,” Place said of Tenhet. “Thanks for setting the stage for me.”
In his final remarks to the region, Tenhet reminded the assembled hospital leaders and staff that taking care of Soldiers is the number one priority and Army Medicine has an important role in maintaining readiness by providing accessible care. He also challenged the region to remember the importance of taking care of each other and the team.
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The new commander’s most recent assignment was assistant surgeon general for quality and safety (Provisional), Office of The Surgeon General; and deputy chief of staff, quality and safety (Provisional). The South Dakota native is a graduate of University of South Dakota and Creighton University School of Medicine.

Place’s medical assignments include staff general surgeon at Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia; colorectal surgeon and assistant chief of surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center; Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington; general surgeon, 250^th Forward Surgical Team, Afghanistan; Task Force Med Falcon IX , Kosovo; and 249^th General Hospital, Afghanistan.