Col. Michael A. Weber relinquished command of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research to Col. Michael D. Wirt II during a change of command ceremony July 30 at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Wirt took command of USAISR when he received the Institute's flag from Maj. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, who hosted of the ceremony.

During his remarks, Caravalho praised Weber's success for his "unprecedented levels of scientific productivity," as well as the support of his family.

"USAISR's successful organizational evolution and innovative life-saving research is a direct result of sound, thoughtful leadership," Caravalho said. "It has been a pleasure working with you. Thank you for all of your efforts, expertise and leadership.

"Colonel Wirt, welcome to USMRMC and USAISR," continued Caravalho. "You come to us well prepared from your recent tour in Afghanistan. In fact, you have served in a number of assignments in forward surgical combat environments, which will give you a great perspective as you come in to set the course for USAISR and its critical work in combat casualty care."

Wirt comes from the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and recently returned from a deployment where he served as the officer-in-charge of the U.S. contingent at the Bastion Role 3 Hospital at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Weber, who has served as the USAISR commander since July 2012, will transfer to the Middle East where he will be the assistant program manager at the Health Affairs Division of the Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program.