Top Doc takes command Georgia Air Guard medical group

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Roger Parsons
  • 116th ACW Public Affairs
The 116th Medical Group of the Georgia Air National Guard welcomed Col. Louis J. Perino as its new commander during a change of command ceremony, January 10.

Currently the Chief of Aerospace Medicine and the Deputy State Air Surgeon for the Georgia Air National Guard, Perino brings a wealth of experience to the position, replacing Col. Muriel Herman who commanded the group for more than six years.

A board certified emergency medicine physician, Perino brings experience garnered from four distinct biomedical careers, including 23 years of service in the Air National Guard.

Col. Mark Weber, the commander of the 116th Air Control Wing who presided over the ceremony, used the opportunity to share a laundry list of experience and accomplishments Perino brings to the table.

"Three doctorate degrees...university professor for more than 15 years...authored more than 200 publications and 61 scientific manuscripts and book chapters...flight surgeon with more than 500 combat flight hours...4,000 plus civilian flight hours as a pilot in command flying to and from ranches in the Midwestern United States caring for more than 100,000 head of cattle...deployed to multiple forward operating locations and domestic response operations in the state partnership program to multiple countries," shared Weber.

"We are blessed to have his exceptional experience as the new leader of our medical group," continued Weber.

Perino shared similar sentiments on his selection to lead the medical group.

"I'm personally excited to be the new commander," Perino said. "The caliber, abilities, and backgrounds of the various medics are amazing. We have an amazing medical group and an amazing group of individuals."

"Col. Weber, I'm proud to support JSTARS," he continued. "I promise we are going to continue to deliver medically ready people so JSTARS can continue to support combatant commanders around the world. We've been doing it and we're going to keep doing it. It's a no fail mission and that's how we look at it."

The 116th Medical Group is the medical arm of the 116th Air Control Wing, responsible for deploying medical ready personnel to meet federal and state missions. More specifically, the unit's domestic mission is to provide trained medical personnel as a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive enhanced response force package, or CERFP, as a part of the homeland response force serving the Southeastern United States.