JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Bronze Star Medals were presented to seven members of a Mobile Forward Surgical Team assigned to the 779th Medical Group during a ceremony here on May 3, 2017.
Maj. (Dr.) Noah Sutton, Maj. (Dr.) Derric Whiteside, Maj. Dino Quijano, Maj. James O' Neill, Capt. (Dr.) Nathan Kinder, 1st Lt William Harris III, and Senior Airman Preston Fisher were awarded for their actions in saving lives while recently deployed.
“The Mobile Forward Surgical Team and the Expeditionary Critical Care team were deployed to an austere environment where they did amazing work with the Army. They were called upon on short notice to serve in a very hostile environment, where they cared for a number of wounded and injured servicemen. Their performance under duress was nothing short of incredible and they made such great contributions to austere medicine and surgery that their lessons learned will impact this field for generations. Furthermore, Army and Air Force leadership were so impressed with the capabilities of this particular team that the MFST and ECCT will be called upon again to perform similar missions on a regular basis. I am so proud of our team and the work they did,” said Col. Leslie Knight, 779th Medical Group commander.
During this period the Mobile Forward Surgical Team displayed the highest degree of professionalism, sound judgment, and technical and tactical competence while conducting medical operations while deployed.
“I’m proud to have served with this extremely resilient team,” said 1st Lt. William Harris, III, Team Administrator and Planner. “The mission required us to be relocated on multiple occasions and establish damage control surgery and intensive care units in non-traditional settings. Our medics were always up to the task and went the extra mile for our patients from the very beginning.”
Mobile Forward Surgical Teams are highly specialized, rapidly deployable medical teams who seamlessly provide support to stabilize wounded, ill and injured in austere locations.
“We adapted to our environment by working together as a team and relying on each other,” said Maj. Dino Quijano, Critical Care Nurse. “Internally, we have built strong relationships and trust one another. And, when we deploy, everyone understands that we represent the Air Force, specifically Air Force Medics, and we take pride in portraying a positive image.”
The medics receiving Bronze Star Medals are one of many who tirelessly work to provide trusted care to all service members and patients.