Colonel Harback takes command of 81st MDTS Published June 25, 2014 By Steve Pivnick 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Lt. Col. Maureen Harback will take command of the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron from current commander Col. Thomas Bacon during an 8 a.m. a ceremony July 1, in front of Keesler Medical Center. Col. (Dr.) Tom Harrell, 81st Medical Group commander, will officiate. The new commander will lead a squadron that provides health care to more than 66,000 Gulf Coast beneficiaries. The squadron consists of 297 military, government civilian and contract personnel divided into four flights: diagnostic imaging, nutritional medicine, pathology/clinical laboratory and pharmacy. She is accountable for a $40million operations and maintenance budget and $52million in equipment resources. She also serves as the 81st Medical Group biomedical sciences executive officer, providing career advice and guidance to 47 BSC officers. The colonel received a direct commission into the Air Force in 1990 and began her career as a dietetic intern. She has since held a variety of operational, clinical and health promotion positions dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Air Force members. She has also served as a deputy medical group commander, medical operations squadron commander and led a variety of diverse flights to include nutritional medicine, diagnostics and therapeutics, aerospace medicine and medical service. Prior to her current assignment, the colonel served as the director of the Air Force Group Commanders' Course at the Eaker Center for Professional Development, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. She is a registered dietitian, board certified health education specialist and a member of the American Dietetic Association. Bacon will become commander of the 99th Medical Operations Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.