WEBVTT 00:01.009 --> 00:03.120 Welcome to the promotion ceremony for 00:03.120 --> 00:05.342 First Lieutenant Alexandria Armstead to 00:05.342 --> 00:08.640 the rank of Captain . Please rise for 00:08.640 --> 00:10.584 the playing of our national anthem 00:10.584 --> 00:12.807 followed by the invocation delivered by 00:12.807 --> 00:13.807 Sergeant Powers . 01:35.750 --> 01:39.470 Let us pray Father God , 01:39.870 --> 01:41.750 we gather today to celebrate a 01:41.750 --> 01:44.029 significant milestone in the career of 01:44.029 --> 01:47.900 Alexandria Armstead . We thank you for 01:48.000 --> 01:50.949 her dedication , her leadership , and 01:50.949 --> 01:53.116 unwavering commitment to this nation . 01:54.290 --> 01:56.290 We thank you for allowing her every 01:56.290 --> 01:59.959 breath . For every decision The 01:59.959 --> 02:02.959 lead to where she is right now on this 02:02.959 --> 02:06.760 day . Thank you . As she 02:06.760 --> 02:08.482 prepares to accept the greater 02:08.482 --> 02:11.850 responsibilities of a captain . We ask 02:11.850 --> 02:14.128 for your continued guidance and wisdom . 02:15.289 --> 02:17.690 Father , may you grant her the heart of 02:17.690 --> 02:20.050 Christ , allowing her the strength to 02:20.050 --> 02:22.869 lead with integrity . The compassion to 02:22.869 --> 02:26.570 care for others . And the courage , the 02:26.570 --> 02:29.929 presence . That rallies others to serve 02:29.929 --> 02:33.220 a higher purpose . Father , may you 02:33.220 --> 02:35.630 bless her family for their support and 02:35.630 --> 02:38.440 sacrifice . And you protect them and 02:38.440 --> 02:40.929 empower them as they continue on 02:40.929 --> 02:44.539 further . In her career in their life . 02:46.610 --> 02:48.499 You continue to watch over them . 02:48.699 --> 02:51.350 Protect them . As well as those who 02:51.350 --> 02:53.350 fall underneath her in the future . 02:53.770 --> 02:56.110 Jesus' holy name we pray . Amen . 03:03.380 --> 03:04.350 Please be seated 03:10.240 --> 03:12.129 Lieutenant General Dingle , Mrs . 03:12.199 --> 03:14.600 Dingle , Colonel Perrotta , First 03:14.600 --> 03:17.119 Sergeant Hamilton , family , friends , 03:17.199 --> 03:19.477 and distinguished guests in attendance , 03:19.679 --> 03:21.457 good morning and welcome to the 03:21.457 --> 03:23.512 promotion ceremony in honor of First 03:23.512 --> 03:25.880 Lieutenant Armstead . Your host for 03:25.880 --> 03:28.047 today's ceremony is Lieutenant General 03:28.047 --> 03:30.000 Scott Dingell , the United States 03:30.000 --> 03:33.279 Army's 45th Surgeon General . After 35 03:33.279 --> 03:35.446 years of service , he retired on March 03:35.446 --> 03:38.600 1st , 2024 as the Surgeon General and 03:38.600 --> 03:40.656 the Commanding General of the United 03:40.656 --> 03:42.800 States Army Medical Command . Welcome 03:42.800 --> 03:44.856 back to the Walter Reed Institute of 03:44.856 --> 03:48.100 Research , sir . Lieutenant Armstead is 03:48.100 --> 03:50.380 also joined by her husband , Air Force 03:50.380 --> 03:52.820 Major retired Henry Armstead III . 03:54.199 --> 03:56.589 At this time , please welcome our host , 03:56.889 --> 03:58.500 Lieutenant General Dingell . 04:05.649 --> 04:07.871 Thank you , thank you . How's everybody 04:07.871 --> 04:07.440 doing ? 04:12.000 --> 04:15.970 Yeah Kona Panic . This , 04:16.089 --> 04:18.200 this is , this is not the rare that I 04:18.200 --> 04:20.809 know . Then I think I caught , I caught 04:20.809 --> 04:23.850 him off guard , what it was . Tom , is 04:23.850 --> 04:26.183 that what it was ? Caught him off guard . 04:29.839 --> 04:32.769 How's everybody doing ? Now , that's 04:32.769 --> 04:35.209 the rare I know . That is the rare I 04:35.209 --> 04:37.529 know . I tell you , it is , it is 04:37.529 --> 04:41.010 definitely good to be back at rare . 04:41.790 --> 04:44.012 Uh , we were just talking in the back . 04:44.012 --> 04:46.068 Uh , it seems like I was standing up 04:46.068 --> 04:48.119 here doing a Professional leader 04:48.119 --> 04:50.230 development session with , you know , 04:50.230 --> 04:52.459 all the soldiers and civilians , uh , 04:52.519 --> 04:55.209 seemed like yesterday . And the first 04:55.209 --> 04:58.769 thing that came to my mind was that The 04:58.769 --> 05:02.529 importance of what you do often 05:02.529 --> 05:05.029 goes unrecognized . 05:06.299 --> 05:08.466 Doesn't mean that it's not important . 05:09.019 --> 05:12.790 Because what you do at rare . Is 05:12.790 --> 05:15.850 the difference between us winning . 05:16.679 --> 05:20.079 The readiness , the combat in war and 05:20.079 --> 05:23.959 peacetime . And losing . But yet you 05:23.959 --> 05:26.237 don't get the attention . You , you're , 05:26.237 --> 05:28.480 you're what I call the unsung hero . 05:29.570 --> 05:32.019 But we can't do it without you . But 05:32.019 --> 05:35.420 yet what you do as professionals of 05:35.420 --> 05:38.079 excellence is beyond 05:38.579 --> 05:42.559 words can . Convey . So I wanna say 05:42.559 --> 05:44.670 thank you . Thank you for what you're 05:44.670 --> 05:46.726 doing , Colonel Perrada Bree . You , 05:46.726 --> 05:48.948 you have a phenomenal team . You have a 05:48.948 --> 05:50.948 phenomenal commander also . I don't 05:50.948 --> 05:53.281 know if you figured it out or not , but , 05:53.281 --> 05:55.281 but you have one of Army medicine's 05:55.281 --> 05:57.281 best . So thank you , um , for your 05:57.281 --> 05:59.615 leadership and what you're gonna do and , 05:59.640 --> 06:02.130 and what you have already done . I , I 06:02.130 --> 06:04.709 don't know if you figured it out or not . 06:06.260 --> 06:08.371 But this is not just any lieutenant . 06:09.320 --> 06:11.160 This this is not just any , any 06:11.160 --> 06:12.160 lieutenant . 06:14.970 --> 06:17.239 Lieutenant Armstead is , is what I 06:17.239 --> 06:21.000 think . Many would call , or what I 06:21.000 --> 06:24.700 would call , uh , a diamond . A 06:24.700 --> 06:28.010 diamond But when I first met her , 06:29.209 --> 06:33.140 She was in a rough place . Sergeant 06:33.140 --> 06:35.196 first class . What was the rank ? We 06:35.196 --> 06:37.418 had staff sergeant sergeant first class 06:37.418 --> 06:40.920 at the time . A sergeant . You were E5 . 06:42.429 --> 06:44.651 That is the type of talent , you know , 06:44.651 --> 06:46.985 and I don't wanna steal a story cause I , 06:46.985 --> 06:49.096 I want her to tell her story , but um 06:49.096 --> 06:51.779 she was a sergeant . But yet leading 06:51.779 --> 06:54.450 the lab in the middle of the desert , 06:54.700 --> 06:58.690 Fort Huachuca . And , and I was 06:58.690 --> 07:00.579 doing a command visit , me and my 07:00.579 --> 07:02.839 command sergeant Major , and the , the 07:02.839 --> 07:05.549 commander of , of that particular 07:06.089 --> 07:08.209 clinic at the time was , was Colonel 07:08.209 --> 07:10.209 Gray , who is now commanding out of 07:10.209 --> 07:12.376 William Beaumont Army Medical Center , 07:12.500 --> 07:15.089 a tremendous leader . And , and as we 07:15.089 --> 07:17.570 arrived there , Colonel Gray said , OK , 07:17.690 --> 07:19.912 you know , General Dingell , I , I want 07:19.912 --> 07:22.023 to make sure that you have to see the 07:22.023 --> 07:24.290 lab . I said , OK . I said , we'll walk 07:24.290 --> 07:26.512 through . She said , no , no , no . She 07:26.512 --> 07:28.623 said , you , you really gotta see the 07:28.623 --> 07:30.679 lab . I said , I have an NCOIC there 07:30.679 --> 07:34.179 that is an E5 , a sergeant . That is 07:34.179 --> 07:36.619 leading my lab , and I tell you , she's 07:36.619 --> 07:38.619 one of the best things since sliced 07:38.619 --> 07:42.290 bread . Now , after meeting her , I 07:42.290 --> 07:44.457 thought she was a saw in first class , 07:44.529 --> 07:47.910 because she was that sharp and that 07:47.929 --> 07:51.279 good . So we walked down to the lab and 07:52.119 --> 07:54.230 You know , she's she's standing there 07:54.230 --> 07:56.341 to greet and meet us in the hallway , 07:56.359 --> 07:59.140 but she wasn't smiling . She , she 07:59.140 --> 08:01.251 wasn't sitting there , you know , you 08:01.251 --> 08:04.130 know , ready and joyous and happy to , 08:04.459 --> 08:06.626 you know , OK , here comes the surgeon 08:06.626 --> 08:08.681 General . You know , she was serious 08:08.681 --> 08:10.903 and she was still just , just waiting . 08:10.903 --> 08:13.015 You know , and then as she , she came 08:13.015 --> 08:15.126 and greeted , of course , she did the 08:15.126 --> 08:17.403 obligatory , you know , generous smile , 08:17.403 --> 08:19.348 you know , protocol . And then she 08:19.348 --> 08:22.109 started talking about the lab and her 08:22.109 --> 08:24.899 teammates . And as she started talking , 08:26.359 --> 08:28.880 It hit me that this is not just a 08:28.880 --> 08:31.529 regular sergeant . I said , there's 08:31.529 --> 08:34.250 something different about this soldier . 08:35.330 --> 08:37.497 And as she walked us through the whole 08:37.497 --> 08:39.570 lab , and she did it like , um , the 08:39.570 --> 08:41.792 consultant , my laboratory consultant , 08:41.792 --> 08:43.848 she knew that lab , and she knew the 08:43.848 --> 08:46.126 people . And then afterward , I'm like , 08:46.126 --> 08:48.292 OK , yeah , yeah , I got it , got it , 08:48.292 --> 08:50.626 got it . And I said , well , well , who , 08:50.626 --> 08:52.903 who , what is your , what is your name ? 08:52.903 --> 08:55.429 And , and , and I asked , do you have a 08:55.429 --> 08:58.700 degree ? Do you have your degree ? 08:59.260 --> 09:00.260 Sounds familiar ? 09:03.489 --> 09:05.849 Do you have your degree ? And , and she 09:05.849 --> 09:08.250 said , yes , and , and I said , well , 09:08.609 --> 09:10.776 what are you doing ? She said , well , 09:10.909 --> 09:13.239 sir , man , I , I , I'm trying to , I'm 09:13.239 --> 09:15.183 just still near your thunder . All 09:15.183 --> 09:15.020 right , I'm gonna stop , I'm gonna stop . 09:15.380 --> 09:18.710 Um . She , she said , I'll , I'll , 09:18.760 --> 09:20.927 I'll , I'll , I'll stop . A little bit 09:20.927 --> 09:23.149 of it , though . Um , she said , well , 09:23.149 --> 09:26.479 sir , I tried 3 times . And I didn't 09:26.479 --> 09:27.359 get accepted . 09:30.729 --> 09:33.390 I said , this , this soldier . 09:34.330 --> 09:36.919 Sergeant E5 was one of the sharpest . 09:37.760 --> 09:39.979 Laboratory officers that I have ever 09:40.200 --> 09:43.750 seen , bar none . And I said , hmm , 09:44.130 --> 09:46.352 I said , why don't you give it one more 09:46.352 --> 09:49.590 try . I know the surgeon General . I'm 09:49.590 --> 09:52.630 gonna write you a letter . And , and 09:52.630 --> 09:54.741 she like , well , you know , I said , 09:54.741 --> 09:56.963 no , no , let's try one more time . She 09:56.963 --> 09:59.130 had her whole plan . I'll let her tell 09:59.130 --> 10:01.352 her about you . Um , and , and we tried 10:01.352 --> 10:03.241 one more time and , you know , of 10:03.241 --> 10:05.130 course , she , she got her direct 10:05.130 --> 10:07.250 commission . Um , first assignment , 10:07.580 --> 10:09.691 you know , Walter Reed , and you have 10:09.691 --> 10:11.858 some of the Walter Reed , um , leaders 10:11.858 --> 10:14.080 here and teammates , Commander Benson , 10:14.080 --> 10:16.136 um , good to see you again , General 10:16.136 --> 10:18.469 Place's former aide and her former boss . 10:18.469 --> 10:20.580 But , you know , you , you , you have 10:20.580 --> 10:22.858 the , the center of gravity , you know , 10:22.858 --> 10:25.080 when it comes to laboratory science and 10:25.080 --> 10:27.191 officers and operations sitting right 10:27.191 --> 10:28.969 here with this sailor and these 10:28.969 --> 10:30.858 civilians that are representing a 10:30.858 --> 10:33.080 tremendous team . So thank you for what 10:33.080 --> 10:35.309 you all do . We appreciate you . Um , 10:35.479 --> 10:37.559 that was her first assignment as a 10:37.559 --> 10:41.549 lieutenant . As a lieutenant , We 10:41.549 --> 10:43.771 don't just send anybody as a lieutenant 10:43.771 --> 10:46.150 to Walter Reed , you know , again , a 10:46.150 --> 10:48.450 diamond in the rough . She was a 10:48.450 --> 10:50.672 diamond in the rough because she was at 10:50.672 --> 10:52.561 a rough time in her life , in her 10:52.561 --> 10:54.672 career , and her profession , and was 10:54.672 --> 10:57.270 frustrated with the uh rejections from 10:57.270 --> 10:59.929 the military of not being said yes to 10:59.940 --> 11:03.030 complete a goal . But now , that 11:03.030 --> 11:05.539 diamond is shining and we put her in 11:05.539 --> 11:07.650 one of the most challenging locations 11:07.650 --> 11:10.169 we have at Walter Reed . And then not 11:10.169 --> 11:12.280 only there , that now we bring her to 11:12.280 --> 11:15.489 the center of gravity when it comes to 11:15.489 --> 11:17.719 research . Hear it rare 11:20.479 --> 11:22.812 This is not just your normal lieutenant . 11:23.919 --> 11:25.919 I , I was talking . She graduated . 11:25.919 --> 11:28.599 She's from Florida . Um , she could 11:28.599 --> 11:30.679 tell you her story . She went to the 11:30.679 --> 11:32.919 University of Florida . And , and when 11:32.919 --> 11:34.975 she told that to me when I first met 11:34.975 --> 11:37.252 her , I said , oh my goodness . I said , 11:37.252 --> 11:39.586 do you know Doctor Bowie ? Oh , yes , I , 11:39.586 --> 11:41.475 I used to work for him . I said , 11:41.475 --> 11:44.359 that's my best friend from college . My 11:44.359 --> 11:46.470 best friend from college , you know , 11:46.470 --> 11:49.940 and so , it's a small world and , um , 11:49.960 --> 11:52.960 Alex , it was not by accident that our 11:52.960 --> 11:55.510 meeting happened when it did . It was a 11:55.510 --> 11:58.820 divine meeting . When I told Doctor 11:58.820 --> 12:00.987 Bowie that that I was getting ready to 12:00.987 --> 12:03.299 do this quick promotion , um , and I'm 12:03.299 --> 12:05.729 getting ready to stop . He said , uh , 12:05.929 --> 12:07.929 he said , all right , man , he , he 12:07.929 --> 12:10.151 goes , Scotty , you know what ? He , he 12:10.151 --> 12:12.207 said this , I'm gonna read it to you 12:12.207 --> 12:14.262 verbatim . He said , you know , Alex 12:14.262 --> 12:16.429 stood out as a pleasant , meticulous , 12:16.429 --> 12:18.651 and exceptionally motivated . Student . 12:18.651 --> 12:20.373 Her outstanding work ethic and 12:20.373 --> 12:21.985 unwavered dedication clearly 12:21.985 --> 12:24.207 demonstrated her readiness for advanced 12:24.207 --> 12:26.373 academic and professional challenges . 12:26.373 --> 12:28.318 She was by far an exception to the 12:28.318 --> 12:30.989 normal student . Once , once again , 12:31.070 --> 12:34.950 you see a pattern of where she 12:34.950 --> 12:37.229 is not the normal student , not the 12:37.229 --> 12:39.062 normal sergeant , not the normal 12:39.062 --> 12:41.062 lieutenant . And Bree , what you're 12:41.062 --> 12:43.173 getting is you don't have your normal 12:43.173 --> 12:46.440 captain that's on your team . And so 12:47.250 --> 12:51.000 On this day , Alex . We must 12:51.000 --> 12:53.400 remember , Psalms 75 , 6 and 7 , 12:53.479 --> 12:55.479 promotion comes not for the east or 12:55.479 --> 12:58.520 west , nor south but God . He raises 12:58.520 --> 13:02.320 you up in time that he has decided . 13:03.200 --> 13:06.570 This is your time . And as you elevate 13:06.570 --> 13:09.309 now to the rank of captain , Don't 13:09.309 --> 13:12.469 change . Don't stop being that that 13:12.469 --> 13:15.049 exceptionally motivated , dedicated 13:16.469 --> 13:19.030 student , soldier , officer . Don't 13:19.030 --> 13:21.890 change . And , and her drive comes from 13:21.890 --> 13:24.460 her other half . You know , you know , 13:24.539 --> 13:26.650 her other half . You know , he said , 13:26.679 --> 13:29.640 yeah , that's me . And , and I'll let 13:29.640 --> 13:31.862 her , I'll let , let her tell you about 13:31.862 --> 13:34.280 Henry and , and the 18 years of , of 13:34.280 --> 13:36.840 their union . Now Henry's a retired Air 13:36.840 --> 13:39.390 Force . But we won't hold that against 13:39.390 --> 13:42.349 him because he came to his senses and 13:42.349 --> 13:44.293 said , I need to find an Army Army 13:44.293 --> 13:46.405 soldier wife , and , and he did . And 13:46.405 --> 13:48.571 like he said a little while ago , he's 13:48.571 --> 13:50.793 just on a ride now as , as he takes her 13:50.793 --> 13:53.016 to the , to the , to the stratosphere . 13:53.270 --> 13:55.381 You know , your best is yet to come . 13:55.381 --> 13:57.270 Henry , thank you . Thank you for 13:57.270 --> 14:00.539 supporting , um , your other half . Um , 14:00.590 --> 14:02.760 you are the center of her world , and 14:03.570 --> 14:06.130 She's rooted in God and 14:06.950 --> 14:09.289 Tremendous Christian leader . 14:10.469 --> 14:13.700 Spouse . Tremendous officer . Thank you . 14:15.440 --> 14:18.510 Keep , keep Keeping it straight . Keep 14:18.510 --> 14:20.650 it straight . But , but ladies and 14:20.650 --> 14:22.650 gentlemen , I tell you , you have a 14:22.650 --> 14:25.340 tremendous teammate and There's so much 14:25.340 --> 14:27.562 more I wanna say , but I'm I'm stealing 14:27.562 --> 14:29.979 her whole story . But , but I , I leave 14:29.979 --> 14:33.710 you with this . A diamond in the rough . 14:35.190 --> 14:38.520 A diamond in the rough has the most 14:38.520 --> 14:42.000 potential beyond measure . But yet that 14:42.000 --> 14:44.640 diamond just may be at a position where 14:44.640 --> 14:47.719 it just needed that pickup out of that 14:47.719 --> 14:51.409 rough . That that nudge , that 14:51.409 --> 14:54.090 push , so that it could reach its full 14:54.090 --> 14:57.559 potential . It's often the unsung hero . 14:58.349 --> 15:00.516 But yet nevertheless important at what 15:00.516 --> 15:03.590 it does . And I tell you , this is a 15:03.590 --> 15:06.679 tremendous fit of soon-to be Captain 15:06.679 --> 15:09.260 Armstead joining this tremendous team 15:09.260 --> 15:13.090 at RR . You all are not just unsung 15:13.090 --> 15:15.530 heroes , you are heroes , and you're 15:15.530 --> 15:18.570 gonna get another hero in the army's 15:18.570 --> 15:20.737 newest , youngest captain . So I thank 15:20.737 --> 15:23.159 you all for coming out . Um , when she 15:23.159 --> 15:25.381 said she wanted to do this , she said , 15:25.381 --> 15:27.492 well , well , General Dingell , we're 15:27.492 --> 15:27.330 just gonna do 5 people in the room . 15:27.409 --> 15:29.520 I'm just gonna tear it off , and here 15:29.520 --> 15:31.798 we're gonna stick it on and we're done . 15:31.798 --> 15:33.909 I said , yeah , right . OK . OK . But 15:33.909 --> 15:36.076 ladies and gentlemen , um , it is , it 15:36.076 --> 15:38.880 is my distinct honor to , uh , do this , 15:38.900 --> 15:41.510 and without any further ado , let's 15:41.510 --> 15:44.109 promote the United States Army's 15:44.109 --> 15:47.849 youngest and most talented , motivated 15:48.390 --> 15:50.950 captain in the history of the Army . 15:51.890 --> 15:55.640 Come on up here , Alex . Thank you , 15:55.729 --> 15:57.729 General Dingell , for sharing those 15:57.729 --> 16:00.809 inspirational words . At this time , I 16:00.809 --> 16:02.920 ask that Lieutenant Armstead and Mr . 16:02.920 --> 16:05.087 Armstead please come to center stage . 16:15.489 --> 16:18.039 Please remain seated as I publish the 16:18.039 --> 16:19.095 promotion orders . 16:22.059 --> 16:24.799 Attention to orders The president of 16:24.799 --> 16:27.640 the United States , acting upon the 16:27.640 --> 16:29.807 recommendation of the Secretary of the 16:29.807 --> 16:32.400 Army has placed special trust and 16:32.400 --> 16:35.419 confidence in the patriotism , valor , 16:35.799 --> 16:38.340 fidelity , and professional excellence 16:38.719 --> 16:41.200 of First Lieutenant Alexandria Armstead . 16:41.909 --> 16:44.109 In view of these qualities and her 16:44.109 --> 16:46.630 demonstrated leadership potential and 16:46.630 --> 16:48.797 dedicated service to the United States 16:48.797 --> 16:51.859 Army , she is therefore promoted to the 16:51.859 --> 16:55.159 rank of captain . Effective the first 16:55.159 --> 16:59.080 day of March 2026 , signed 16:59.090 --> 17:01.960 Daniel P . Driscoll , Secretary of the 17:01.960 --> 17:02.359 Army . 17:17.579 --> 17:19.635 Mr . Armstead is now placing the new 17:19.635 --> 17:21.219 rank on Captain Armstead . 18:11.540 --> 18:13.979 Although it is not required by law , it 18:13.979 --> 18:16.090 is tradition that officers recite the 18:16.090 --> 18:17.880 oath of office upon promotion . 18:18.339 --> 18:20.339 Lieutenant General Dingell will now 18:20.339 --> 18:22.506 administer the oath of office . Please 18:22.506 --> 18:23.506 remain seated . 19:53.699 --> 19:55.699 Lieutenant General Dingell will now 19:55.699 --> 19:57.588 present Captain Armstead with her 19:57.588 --> 19:59.088 certificate of promotion . 20:32.670 --> 20:34.726 Thank you so much . She and I are so 20:34.726 --> 20:38.619 grateful . Very new to the team . 20:39.839 --> 20:43.520 This is quite a showing , and uh thank 20:43.520 --> 20:44.520 you again . 20:47.030 --> 20:50.069 I , I am really honored and almost 20:50.069 --> 20:51.069 speechless . 20:53.930 --> 20:55.819 So , first of all , I thank God I 20:59.449 --> 21:01.393 General English a little bit of my 21:04.079 --> 21:07.770 After I have Last weekend we 21:07.770 --> 21:10.209 celebrated . Wedding anniversary 21:14.069 --> 21:17.560 Henry , Henry , uh when we The Air 21:17.560 --> 21:21.420 Force . Uh , when he 21:21.420 --> 21:22.780 retired , it 21:25.400 --> 21:27.178 I have some goals and I think . 21:29.459 --> 21:31.339 And Said 21:34.640 --> 21:36.880 I need to go army , but um now I would 21:36.880 --> 21:39.560 have it no other way . And so Henry , 21:39.640 --> 21:40.640 thank you . 21:49.760 --> 21:50.560 I do this 21:54.489 --> 21:58.140 Even , even today , he Nice food . 21:58.989 --> 22:02.540 Henry was So thank you so much . 22:09.170 --> 22:11.130 But , interestingly enough , and I 22:11.130 --> 22:13.609 didn't know this before thinking about 22:13.609 --> 22:16.760 what to say . Uh , nine years ago on 22:16.760 --> 22:20.680 this date , 27 March 2017 , I left 22:20.680 --> 22:23.400 our home in California for the army to 22:23.400 --> 22:25.839 embark on my army career , and the plan 22:25.839 --> 22:28.060 was OCS . I went down to Fort Jackson 22:28.060 --> 22:30.400 and Fort Benning , and there are a lot 22:30.400 --> 22:32.344 of brilliant people , scientists , 22:32.344 --> 22:34.550 mathematicians , doctors in the . I 22:34.550 --> 22:36.883 know what you're thinking . You're like , 22:36.883 --> 22:38.883 hey , new captain , that math ain't 22:38.883 --> 22:42.010 math in 9 years , that's Captain , but 22:42.420 --> 22:45.040 uh my path was not direct and General 22:45.040 --> 22:49.010 Dingle . About that , um , but I 22:49.010 --> 22:52.869 am here because Cause amazing 22:52.869 --> 22:56.380 army leaders . Potential 22:56.760 --> 23:00.520 and they did not uh . Met me 23:00.780 --> 23:03.170 and uh they helped me on my journey . 23:03.599 --> 23:06.180 They , the most fitting thing to do is 23:06.180 --> 23:09.880 to The leaders who have helped me . 23:11.479 --> 23:13.812 Uh , to Lieutenant General Dingle , Mrs . 23:13.812 --> 23:17.089 I thank you . Correct . Find 23:17.089 --> 23:20.939 inspiration that You 23:21.089 --> 23:23.209 are a genuine leader , you care for 23:23.209 --> 23:25.510 people . committed to 23:27.449 --> 23:30.040 If you shared your wisdom and mine , 23:30.079 --> 23:33.239 which Shuck because one small detail 23:33.239 --> 23:35.461 that he did not say is that we met , he 23:35.461 --> 23:37.461 was doing the world tour because of 23:37.461 --> 23:40.180 COVID . We met during COVID . So the 23:40.180 --> 23:42.458 lab was a very important place at that . 23:42.979 --> 23:46.099 He didn't have those minutes to so did 23:46.099 --> 23:48.619 some , and I thought for for this 23:48.619 --> 23:50.979 general , this general is not gonna 23:50.979 --> 23:53.035 remember that he talked to me in the 23:53.035 --> 23:55.257 hallway in this basement at Raymond W . 23:55.257 --> 23:57.535 Bliss , but he did , and he remembered , 23:57.535 --> 24:00.599 and he remembered . And , and really , 24:00.719 --> 24:02.608 you guys , that's what it's about 24:02.608 --> 24:06.400 making . have an impact 24:08.670 --> 24:10.837 Oh , thank you , sir . Thank you and I 24:10.837 --> 24:13.059 am forever grateful . It will always be 24:13.059 --> 24:16.189 the hallmark of my So , I have some , 24:16.310 --> 24:19.270 also some mentors that are um virtually 24:19.270 --> 24:21.709 watching today . Colonel Wendy Gray , 24:22.079 --> 24:24.246 amazing leader like General said , she 24:24.246 --> 24:27.780 is down . I thank her too . Well , 24:27.790 --> 24:30.569 Chris Calero retired at Bamsey the . 24:31.880 --> 24:35.650 Some of you here know uh Ero , and 24:35.650 --> 24:39.089 she is , um , family at rare , and many 24:39.089 --> 24:42.930 say she was the last 71 echo to . Don't 24:42.930 --> 24:45.530 worry guys , she has given me notes and 24:45.530 --> 24:47.530 she still mentors me today , so I'm 24:47.530 --> 24:49.641 very grateful for that . Colonel Cary 24:49.641 --> 24:52.449 Graves , the lab manager at uh AMC as 24:52.449 --> 24:55.650 well , Jamie , Major Jamie Taylor , and 24:55.650 --> 24:57.928 Command Sergeant Major Jennifer Taylor , 24:57.928 --> 24:59.983 they're both retired and and raising 24:59.983 --> 25:02.206 their family now down in San Antonio as 25:02.206 --> 25:04.428 well , but they're a power couple , and 25:04.428 --> 25:06.539 I met them in the army . Major Taylor 25:06.539 --> 25:09.329 was my chief of the lab , and , and 25:09.339 --> 25:13.219 these people , they . Not only said , 25:13.339 --> 25:15.506 hey , you can do it , I , I know other 25:15.506 --> 25:19.189 people . They found the the 25:19.189 --> 25:21.300 way forward . They helped me make the 25:21.300 --> 25:23.619 road for the details that are sometimes 25:23.619 --> 25:26.550 unclear . They helped me clarify . And 25:26.550 --> 25:29.069 then Ms . Patricia Jarrett , she she's 25:29.069 --> 25:31.030 here , I think she is the program 25:31.030 --> 25:33.900 director at the clock program . I was 25:33.900 --> 25:36.410 not her student . This lady let me call 25:36.410 --> 25:38.579 her , text her . We found the avenue , 25:38.650 --> 25:40.706 the way , because at that time , I'm 25:40.706 --> 25:42.483 not sure why she was confused . 25:44.219 --> 25:46.199 Officer , um , but she helped me 25:46.199 --> 25:49.010 because of Uh , from her clock program . 25:49.719 --> 25:51.663 So thank you to all of them . They 25:51.663 --> 25:53.969 really dug in . Found the way 25:56.540 --> 25:59.300 I , I was in not the best place , but 25:59.300 --> 26:01.133 Colonel Gray helped me with that 26:01.133 --> 26:03.579 attitude , helped me see that one of 26:03.579 --> 26:05.746 the things I needed to do to change my 26:05.746 --> 26:08.469 perspective . Then fast forward , I get 26:08.469 --> 26:10.969 to Walter Reed , and I remember on my 26:10.969 --> 26:13.119 first day , General Dingle text and 26:13.119 --> 26:15.230 said , Welcome to the big leagues . I 26:15.230 --> 26:17.489 did not , but it is such a high 26:17.489 --> 26:19.810 visibility , fast moving operation 26:19.810 --> 26:22.209 joint environment , and it was like a 26:22.209 --> 26:23.209 year later . 26:26.160 --> 26:29.199 Big leagues . This is it . Um , so I 26:29.199 --> 26:31.520 really did have an amazing first 26:31.520 --> 26:34.579 opportunity and not easy , but I had 26:34.579 --> 26:36.719 Jason De Boer , who is retired now as 26:36.719 --> 26:39.119 well , but he was our lab manager and 26:39.119 --> 26:41.286 Colonel De Boer had 3 bars of butter , 26:41.286 --> 26:44.000 32 ensigns and Army lieutenant , 2nd 26:44.000 --> 26:47.160 lieutenant , and , uh , he instilled 26:47.160 --> 26:50.819 the fundamentals of laboratory . And he 26:50.819 --> 26:52.875 has a relentless work ethic , like I 26:52.875 --> 26:56.859 said . Yeah , it's not . Um , but the 26:56.859 --> 26:59.026 other thing that Colonel Du brought us 27:00.069 --> 27:02.280 was the importance of your people . 27:03.119 --> 27:04.730 Advocating for your people , 27:04.959 --> 27:08.670 recognizing . And through Big , 27:08.729 --> 27:11.189 uh , patients there and he also , 27:13.510 --> 27:16.300 His mission , his job is personal to 27:16.300 --> 27:17.949 him . I worked very 27:20.579 --> 27:22.801 And he was supposed to come today , but 27:22.801 --> 27:24.912 uh he started a new job and so I wish 27:24.912 --> 27:27.079 him well . I thank him for what he did 27:27.079 --> 27:28.968 for me . Um , finally , Commander 27:28.968 --> 27:30.900 Benson was our deputy . Commander 27:30.900 --> 27:34.219 Benson is repping the US Navy today and 27:34.219 --> 27:36.540 in our joint mission . He was a leader . 27:36.660 --> 27:39.219 He led us as well . And sir , your 27:39.219 --> 27:41.900 positivity in , in the face of all 27:41.900 --> 27:45.339 those challenges , sir , you set an 27:45.339 --> 27:48.260 example that I will strive for . You 27:48.260 --> 27:51.209 try to come down to the base . on our 27:51.979 --> 27:53.923 It did not matter if we had a good 27:53.923 --> 27:55.939 report card , bad report card . Our 27:55.939 --> 27:58.050 performance metrics were good , bad , 27:58.050 --> 28:00.106 of course , you talk to your leaders 28:00.106 --> 28:02.310 about that . Came down with a 28:04.349 --> 28:05.339 Positivity is 28:08.260 --> 28:11.640 Flash forward now at . What a mission . 28:12.260 --> 28:15.119 I am a little nervous because uh they 28:16.430 --> 28:19.910 No I hope I live up to that , 28:20.219 --> 28:22.497 but , um , Colonel Saalsky , thank you , 28:22.497 --> 28:25.469 sir . You made it , um . For another 71 28:25.469 --> 28:28.219 echo to come and do this assignment and 28:28.670 --> 28:32.410 a rare opportunity 1 echo , but , um , 28:32.750 --> 28:34.806 but usually , you know , this is the 28:34.806 --> 28:37.369 homemaker biologist . I am so excited 28:37.829 --> 28:41.270 to be among you and uh I get to work 28:41.270 --> 28:44.709 for Colonel . Uh , my 28:45.459 --> 28:47.737 Happy you're happy . Thank you so much . 28:47.737 --> 28:49.959 In the last month they've been training 28:49.959 --> 28:52.070 me up , kind of rusty on my pipetting 28:52.070 --> 28:54.126 skills . They are amazing , uh , and 28:54.126 --> 28:56.126 they're , they're , uh , you know , 28:56.126 --> 28:58.237 taking me into the mission , teaching 28:58.237 --> 29:00.237 me , explaining what they , Colonel 29:00.237 --> 29:02.292 Bennett , your mission is absolutely 29:02.979 --> 29:05.035 with the spirit creating the world . 29:05.035 --> 29:07.090 And that is not what I expected from 29:07.090 --> 29:10.270 recent general thing . Absolutely every 29:10.270 --> 29:13.939 day . Getting 29:14.410 --> 29:17.770 specimens . That's in coming back from 29:17.770 --> 29:21.280 the center . So it's an amazing 29:21.280 --> 29:24.910 opportunity for me . I just hope I , um . 29:27.109 --> 29:29.589 Internship that I received , and I can 29:29.589 --> 29:31.780 um . So thank you all for your time . 29:35.209 --> 29:36.209 It 29:46.760 --> 29:48.982 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand and 29:48.982 --> 29:51.316 join us in the singing of the army song . 31:04.010 --> 31:06.232 On behalf of Lieutenant General Dingell 31:06.232 --> 31:08.121 and the Armsteads , thank you for 31:08.121 --> 31:10.066 attending . This concludes today's 31:10.066 --> 31:12.177 ceremony . Please join us in front of 31:12.177 --> 31:14.066 the stage to congratulate Captain 31:14.066 --> 31:15.899 Armstead and stay for some light 31:15.899 --> 31:15.880 refreshments .