81st MDTS gets new commander Published Sept. 15, 2010 By 81st Medical Group/ Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Col. Richard McBride Jr. took command of the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Tuesday. Colonel McBride succeeds Col. Stephanie McCann who retired Aug. 1. Colonel McBride's squadron consists of diagnostic imaging, nutritional medicine, pharmacy and pathology and clinical laboratory flights and is comprised of more than 300 military members and civilians. The colonel, who served in the Marine Corps as an enlisted member, entered the Air Force in 1987 after receiving a master of science in analytical chemistry degree from the University of Maryland. He completed his biomedical laboratory officer internship at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Colonel McBride served as chief of laboratory services at Dover AFB, Del., where he spearheaded the 436th Contingency Blood Donor Center's support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He also directed the largest transfusion service and blood center in the Air Force at Lackland AFB, Texas. He was chief of the 3rd Medical Group's laboratory element, Elmendorf AFB Alaska, and served on the Air Staff as director of the Air Force Blood Program. He also served as a medical staff officer in the office of the command surgeon, U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.