U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain held an assumption of command ceremony in the hospital courtyard, July 24.

Capt. Lavencion Starks assumed command in a ceremony attended by more than 250 guests including family, friends, staff members and other honored guests.

Rear Adm. Terry Moulton, commander, Navy Medicine East, presided over the ceremony and spoke highly of Interim Commanding Officer Capt. Todd L. Wagner.

"I know this ceremony is a little different for us today, because we're not passing the baton from one CO to the next, but I do want to recognize Capt. Wagner for his excellent work and leadership over the past four months," Moulton said.

Moulton went on to introduce Starks to his new command.

"Vince, what an opportunity you have to come over here from Naples and take command of such a great facility," Moulton said. "Leaders have the ability to learn on the job, they share credit for success, and they share blame for the failures. They have awareness of their own weaknesses. They have the ability to control their emotions.

"They know how to relax and replenish. They go out in the field and manage the rest of us and they have the strength to hear the fundamental goals and the ability to communicate those goals. I know that Capt. Starks has many of these qualities."

Starks, reporting from U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, where he was the executive officer, has been in the Navy for 25 years. He is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and entered into the Navy in 1989. He graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and also holds a Master's Degree in Nurse Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego.

Starks has deployed with the 1st Medical Battalion during the 1990 - 1991 Persian Gulf War and twice with USS New Orleans (LPH-11) and USS Essex (LHD-2). In 1997, Starks became the first male nurse to hold the position of White House Nurse. He continued on to be a senior nurse officer at Branch Medical Clinic Atsugi, Japan, and then as director of clinic support services at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan.

"Before today's event I asked Capt. Pommer, chief of staff for the region...He shared with me, 'Vince Starks is a third generation south side Chicago Bears fan. He is half man and half amazing. He is a true living super hero. He has performed feats mere mortals never could and as such he earned the nickname 'Ironman'," Moulton said.

Starks read his official orders prior to saluting Moulton and assuming command of U.S. Naval Hospital Rota.

Starks said, "To my new family, the staff of Naval Hospital Rota, I want you to know that I am both humbled and honored to be the new skipper. We have great responsibility to the Sailors, Airmen, Marines and other patients that we care for. So I look forward to working with each of you, as we move forward...in support of our primary mission of providing world class healthcare services to the warfighters and their families and the entire beneficiary population for which we are responsible."

U.S. Naval Hospital Rota provides patient and family centered care to Naval Station Rota beneficiaries, U.S. 6th Fleet and other Department of Defense and Department of the State beneficiaries.

For more news from Navy Medicine East visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nme/ .
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For more news from Naval Station Rota, Spain, visit www.navy.mil/.