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FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012

ON SITE: Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo, 528-4770

LATHAM, N.Y. (10/19/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Col. James Coleman, a military flight surgeon with four deployments over the past decade, takes command of the New York National Guard Medical Command here on Sunday. He takes over from Col. Greg Meinking, who retires after more than 32 years of military service. WHO: Col. James Coleman, the incoming commander, Col. Craig Meinking, the outgoing commander, and the Soldiers of the New York National Guard’s Medical Command. WHAT: A traditional military change of command in which Meinking will pass the unit colors, or flag, to Coleman signifying the change in responsibility for the organization’s Soldiers and mission. Traditionally the colors indicated the unit’s location on the battlefield and the location of the commander. The military ritual was designed to allow the Soldiers to see who they would follow in the fight. WHEN: Noon, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 WHERE: New York National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, New York State Armory, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, N.Y. Coverage Opportunities: Reporters will be able to interview the incoming and outgoing commanders and leaders. Visual imagery opportunities include the change of command ceremony and Soldiers in formation. Members of the press must contact Col. Richard Goldenberg at 727-7314 to gain access to this secure military facility. BACKGROUND: The ceremony for the Medical Command is one of three major leadership changes for the New York National Guard this weekend. On Saturday Oct. 20th, the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade welcomes its new commander, Col. Al Ricci in Latham while the 501st Ordnance Battalion (EOD) in Scotia welcomes its new commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Caliendo. Medical Command The New York Army National Guard Medical Command began in 1987 as a mobile medical team. Medical service Soldiers traveled throughout the state providing physical exams to troops to ensure deployment readiness. In less than a decade, the National Guard established medical clinics to provide that support from fixed facilities at the Watervliet Arsenal, Stewart Air National Guard Base and Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse. In 2000 this detachment reorganized as the Medical Command as the unit mission evolved to include Soldier Readiness Processing and Medical Readiness checks throughout the state using New York State armories or federal installations such as Fort Drum or Fort Hamilton instead of the fixed facilities. Medical Command Soldiers deployed to New York City as part of the state response to 9/11, providing sick call for troops and also operating Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) CISM teams to help Soldiers and Airman cope with the traumatic missions at ground zero. Medical Command troops again deployed to New York City in 2004 for the Republican National Convention, providing staff sick call and aide stations for troops assigned to the security missions. Over the past decade of overseas contingency operations, the pace of operations for the Medical Command increased dramatically due to the medical and dental readiness requirements of thousands of Army National Guard Soldiers preparing to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. Today, the Medical Command provides health assessments and dental services for every Soldier in the New York Army National Guard, supporting mobilization and deployment standards are met for more than 10,000 troops. Col. Craig Meinking: Colonel Craig Meinking entered the Army National Guard in August 1980 as a Warrant Officer in the Specialists Corps after graduating from Nebraska University in 1971 and the Staten Island University Hospital Physician Assistant Program in 1976. Meinking served as a Physician Assistant in the 243 Medical Company and then Companies A and D of the 102nd Medical Battalion in Buffalo from 1980-1988. He completed Flight Surgeon School in 1991 and served as Aeromedical Physician Assistant in the headquarters company of the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment through 1995, when he then served as the 42nd Aviation Brigade Aeromedical Physician Assistant. From 1996-2002 Meinking served as the Senior Physician Assistant in Medical Detachments 12 and 6 in the Joint Force Headquarters. Following reorganization, he continued to serve in the Medical Command until his selection in September 2009 as commander of the Medical Command. His military decorations include Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Services Medical, Humanitarian Assistance Medal and Global War on Terror Service Medal. Meinking additionally received the Distinguished Rifle Designation in the 1992 Combat Excellence Competition Match. Meinking, from Depew, N.Y., is married to Audrey Meinking and will retire to Buffalo, N.Y. Col.James Coleman Colonel James Coleman entered the Army a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1992 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He later received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Harvard and his Doctor of Medicine from Upstate Medical University at Syracuse in 1997. Dr. Coleman entered active duty and completed his Family Medicine Residency at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and earned the Outstanding Senior Resident Award. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2003-4 as the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Flight Surgeon. Coleman joined the New York Army National Guard Medical Command in 2004 and has served in multiple positions to include Flight Surgeon, Senior Physician, and Deputy Commander. He deployed as a battalion flight surgeon to Kuwait and Iraq in 2006, Kosovo in 2008-2009 and again to Iraq in 2011. He is a graduate of U.S. Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Air Assault School and Flight Surgeon Course. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, and National Defense Service Medal. Coleman, from Burdett, N.Y., is married to Dawn Coleman. The couple have a daughter, Wendy, age 4.