FORT BRAGG — The Womack Army Medical Center received a new commandant last month to lead its healthcare services at Fort Bragg.
Colonel David Ginante assumed command of the medical center on July 6, in a ceremony to hand over command from Colonel Christopher Jarvis, who retired from the Army on July 22.
Zinnante most recently served as Chief of Staff at the United States Army Medical Center of Excellence at Joint Base Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.
His more than 30 years of service in the Army include Fort Sill Medical Department operations in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and commanding the Reynolds Army Health Clinic. Kirk in Aberdeen, Maryland He is the commander of the Army Health Clinic. During Hurricane Katrina humanitarian assistance in New Orleans, Louisiana, he led the 3rd Corps Health Protection Officer at Fort Hood, Texas, and the 22nd Medical Detachment at Fort Hood.
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Zinnante is no stranger to Fort Bragg, having previously served as the 7th Special Forces Group Executive Officer and Group Preventive Medicine Officer during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was also a Deputy Division Surgeon, Division Environmental Services Officer, and Division Preventive Medicine Officer for the 82nd Airborne Division during Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and during Hurricane Mitch humanitarian assistance in Honduras. was an Enforcer of the 714th Medical Detachment.
“If you told me 17 years ago in 2005 that I would be returning to Fort Bragg as commander of the Womack, I wouldn’t believe you.
Ginante said he sees the job as a privilege and an opportunity.
“To the Fort Bragg community, thank you for entrusting us with your health care. All policies and procedures remain in effect,” he said.
He thanked Jarvis for his support during the transition.
Jarvis has served as commander of the Womack Army Medical Center since July 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Womack serves as the Pentagon’s largest testing center and has issued more vaccines than any other facility, Jarvis said.
Medical and vaccination teams have also been deployed “all over the country” during the pandemic, he said.
He said medical providers and soldiers were juggling the pandemic while ensuring military readiness as soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division, 18th Airborne Division and Special Forces deployed during last year’s drawdown in Afghanistan. said he did.
A new medical system, Genesis, was also implemented, and while Womack maintained its Level III trauma center designation, it also expanded its intake of civilian trauma patients.
“It has been a difficult few years, but a tremendous achievement by Team Womack,” said Jarvis.
brig. General Mary Kruger, commander of the Atlantic Regional Health Command and an officer considering changes to the command, said Fort Bragg’s forces would be the first in Europe, much like Russia did, from the last battlefield in Afghanistan. said it was important to national defense strategy. Working on Ukraine.
“The Womack team behind this has contributed to one of the most dynamic public health environments in our nation’s history,” Kruger said, thanking Jarvis and his team.
Staff Writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
