Conner accepts 4th MDG command

Col. Mark Slocum (left), 4th Fighter Wing commander, passes the guidon to Col. Paul Conner, incoming 4th Medical Group commander, during a change of command ceremony, June 25, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Conner is a board-certified healthcare administrator and previously served as the chief financial officer and director of business operations for the San Antonio Military Health System. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Conner accepts 4th MDG command

Col. Eleanor Nazar-Smith (right), outgoing 4th Medical Group commander, relinquishes the guidon to Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, during a change of command ceremony, June 25, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Nazar-Smith led the group for two years and will retire after relinquishing command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Conner accepts 4th MDG command

Col. Paul Conner, incoming 4th Medical Group commander, receives his first salute after assuming command, June 25, 2015, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Conner acknowledged the group’s significant achievements during the past two years and plans to continue the trend of excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittain Crolley)

Conner accepts 4th MDG command

Published June 29, 2015
By Senior Airman Brittain Crolley
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Col. Paul Conner accepted command of the 4th Medical Group during a ceremony, June 12.

Conner received the guidon from Col. Mark Slocum, 4th Fighter Wing commander, after Col. Eleanor Nazar-Smith relinquished command of the unit following two years at the helm.

Conner has an extensive background in budgeting and is a board-certified healthcare administrator. Prior to arriving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, he was the chief financial officer and director of business operations for the San Antonio Military Health System and served as the principal advisor to the market manager for all healthcare resourcing and business operations issues.

After accepting command, Conner conveyed a message to his new Airmen.

"I look forward to working together with all of you to further your achievements while meeting and overcoming the significant challenges faced by today's military health system," Conner said. "Teamwork is absolutely the foundation for mission success, and we will continue to strengthen our bond and support with all of Team Seymour."

Teamwork has long been the practice for the 4th MDG since Nazar-Smith took command. Under her leadership, the group has seen customer satisfaction rates climb to 96 percent, and construction begin on a new $53 million energy-efficient facility to replace the existing clinic.

Nazar-Smith, who will retire after handing over the group's reins, called her opportunity to become a group commander the "pinnacle" of her career and thanked those who helped her reach that point. She had an especially affectionate thank you to share with her military family at Seymour Johnson.

"Most of all, I want to thank the men and women of the 4th Medical Group," Nazar-Smith said. "I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to command a group like you. It's been more than I could have ever asked. Thank you for what you do to take care of our patients and take care of each other."

Now at the group's helm, which consists of three squadrons and more than 300 active duty, civilian and contract personnel who care for more than 70,000 patients annually, Conner said he wants to continue to build on the foundation placed in front of him and provide Seamless Quality Healthcare ... Anytime, Anywhere.

"The fight is on, let's get at it."