Operational Health Support Unit (OHSU) Jacksonville held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Jacksonville's Officers' Club, Dec. 13.

Capt. Jessica Reed, Nurse Corps, relieved Capt. Lee Kiolbasa, Medical Service Corps, as commanding officer.

"It has been an absolute pleasure to have served as Operational Health Support Unit Jacksonville commanding officer for these past two years," said Kiolbasa. "Our many successes and accomplishments would not have happened without the dedication of each and every member of our team. And with Capt. Reed at the helm, I am certain that you will continue to evolve and succeed."

Kiolbasa went on to thank his command leadership and Sailors for their superior performance in taking on the most demanding responsibilities of patient service.

OHSU Jacksonville plays a vital role in Navy medicine and at Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville, augmenting staff at its hospital and branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. OHSU's highly capable and talented health care professionals meet critical staffing needs that arise due to deployments, permanent change of station billet gaps, and increased patient volumes.

Under Kiolbasa's direction, OHSU Jacksonville achieved numerous accomplishments including most improved regional OHSU; achieving highest overall medical readiness (90 percent); maintaining a 98 percent annual training completion rate; achieving medical and dental readiness of 90 and 98 percent respectively; and earning 32 Navy Surgeon General Health Promotion and Wellness Blue H Awards.

This past year alone, 284 OHSU Jacksonville reservists broke records by provided 3,700 staff-days of health care support. OHSU Jacksonville has also been instrumental in supporting NH Jacksonville's growth and the care of more than 15,000 additional enrolled patients who were previously enrolled to the civilian network.

"Captain Kiolbasa has led his team with the highest degree of engagement and [synchronicity] in planning, proactively mapping out support needs and coordination between our two commands each year," said Capt. John Le Favour, NH Jacksonville commanding officer. "We are one fully integrated staff - reserve, active duty, civilian, and contract - that ensures a seamless, coordinated care experience for our patients."

Le Favour then welcomed Reed as incoming commanding officer.

Kiolbasa, a native of Grand Island, Neb., will move on to assume duties of Deputy Surgeon, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Reed, OHSU Jacksonville's newest commanding officer, was commissioned in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1990, and was previously assigned as acting executive office and senior nurse executive, OHSU Bremerton, Wash., from Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2015.

OHSU is comprised of 18 detachments, operating within 13 Navy Operational Reserve Centers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. It is responsible for the training and management of Bureau of Medicine and Surgery medical resources and medical/dental support to the Southeast region. The unit is also responsible for maintaining mobilization readiness to prepare the associated reserve population for short and long-term support to active forces and national defense requirements.

For more news from Naval Hospital Jacksonville, visit http://www.navy.mil/.