Portsmouth Navy hospital gets gold star for standards

Portsmouth Naval Medical Center has earned a gold seal of approval from the Joint Commission, a national body that accredits health care organizations, the Navy announced.

The award followed a five-day inspection visit in February to the hospital and its clinics. It recognizes the hospital’s compliance with new national standards, including patient safety goals, according to a news release.

Last year, the 298-bed hospital had more than 18,000 admissions and 1.3 million outpatient visits.

Officer Nominated for Promotion

Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood in Texas.

Cone has served as special assistant to the commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, according to a press release.

Beydler leaving for Pentagon

Marine Brig. Gen. William Beydler is set to relinquish command of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command at U.S. Joint Forces Command Friday.

Beydler will assume duties as director of strategy and plans division at Marine Corps Headquarters at the Pentagon.

He is to be succeeded by Navy Capt. Walter E. Carter Jr., currently commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. Carter was recently selected to the rank of rear admiral.

Naval Support Activity holds change of command

Capt. Charles P. Melcher has relieved Capt. Scott Pollpeter as commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Norfolk.

Melcher also will serve as installation commander for the Lafayette River Annex in Norfolk and Naval Support Activity Northwest Annex in Chesapeake, according to a press release.

Pollpeter will become commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit at the University of South Florida in Tampa. 

National Guard brigade bids farewell to Phillips

Col. William R. Phillips II handed over command of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, to Col. Blake C. Ortner in a ceremony at Fort Pickett Sunday.

The 116th BCT consists of more than 3,500 soldiers, including the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry, in Portsmouth.

Phillips led soldiers from the team’s Staunton-based headquarters through an eight-month deployment to Iraq as part of the troop surge that helped stabilize that country, according to a news release.

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Virginia National Guard Legion of Merit, and the Order of Saint Maurice. The 116th BCT Headquarters and the Headquarters Company were awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit citation.

EVENTS

Book signing Col. Edward D. Shames, whose World War II story is detailed in “Tonight We Die as Men.” Noon-2 p.m. July 11. MacArthur Memorial, Norfolk. www.macarthurmemorial.org or (757) 441-2965.

Military briefs run every Friday. Send submissions to military@pilotonline.com