PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Members of the 920th Rescue Wing's Aeromedical Staging Squadron received a fresh smile when they welcomed its new commander here Sept. 11 during a change of command ceremony held in the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute auditorium.

Col. Richard A. Huot, a member of the Air Force Reserve Dental Advisory Board and Dental Development Team, assumed command of the Aeromedical Staging Squadron from Col. Lewis D. Neace, who served the 920th since 2004.

Col. Robert L. Dunn, commander of the 920th Rescue Wing, presided over the ceremony.

"Although we've lost an integral member of ASTS with the departure of Colonel Neace, we've gained a wealth of experience and knowledge with the arrival of Colonel Huot," Colonel Dunn said. "We're looking forward to the continued excellence and growth of the unit."

Colonel Huot most recently was the Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Directorate, Medical Reserve at the Office of the Air Force Reserve, Pentagon. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Boston College, Mass., in 1978. In 1982, he received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., where he received his direct commission. In addition to his Reserve responsibilities, he also serves as the military liaison to the American Dental Association Council on Government Affairs and was awarded the American Dental Association Outstanding Young Dentist Leader Award in 1994.

Never to rest on his laurels, Colonel Huot currently is on a two-week temporary duty assignment in Washington, DC, attending the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives. However, his duties to the 920th take first priority.

"It is an honor and a humbling experience to command such a talented group of officers and enlisted reserve members," said Colonel Huot in an e-mail. "It is my intention to maintain the excellent reputation that the 920th ASTS has earned (over) the past seven years, and to continue to deploy members by request and qualification to all corners of the world with any branch of service."

As the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron Commander, Colonel Huot is responsible for the training and deployment of more than 200 Reserve Airmen here that deploy to areas of operations throughout the world. They are flight surgeons, medical technicians and administrative personnel who provide casualty staging and transportation for patients from staging area to awaiting aircraft.

The ASTS are perhaps one of the busiest squadrons in the Air Force Reserve. They are continuously deployed in the support of war efforts and work hand-in-hand with their active-duty counterparts.

Colonel Neace will assume the role of Surgeon General and Director of Medical Operations at the 10th Air Force at Carswell Joint Reserve Base in Texas.