MRMC bade farewell to Ellen Strock, a valued and long-standing member of its family, who retired from civilian service, and her position as Executive Secretary to the Commanding General, Sept. 30.

Of her retirement Strock said, "and so begins the adventure!"

Strock began her civil service career at the Naval Air Rework Facility, Cherry Point, N.C., in 1981. She transferred to Fort Ritchie, Md., in 1988, when her husband, Richard Strock, retired from the Marine Corps. At Fort Ritchie, Strock worked for more than a decade fulfilling a number of roles including supporting the Inspector General's office as well as serving as secretary to the deputy commander.

Strock transferred to the 7th Signal Command, Fort Detrick, Md., when Fort Ritchie closed in 1998. That same year she served as secretary to the chief of staff. Recognized for her keen organizational skills, she soon moved up the ranks and down the hall as the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General, MRMC, where she remained supporting the past five commanding generals.

Working in a fast-paced environment, Strock shared that her greatest challenge was staying abreast of the multitude of critical events the command juggles at any given moment. She noted that mastering this task equipped her to respond to requests for her boss's time and attention.

When asked about her favorite part of the job, Strock responded, "the people I had the good fortune to work with each day." While Strock admits that she will not miss the routine of the workday, she will miss her colleagues.

Reminiscing about her time spent at Fort Detrick, Strock added that since she first arrived, the post had grown in size and mission.

Strock said, "the development of new technology and research that produced new ways to protect the warfighter, save lives, and heal wounded bodies and minds, and promote health&endash;it is amazing!"