For so many in the Army, the journey associated with a military career – the friendships, the contributions, the sacrifices – is the true centerpiece of the experience. For Victor Laragione, who accepted his new role as Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command on August 12 at Fort Detrick, Maryland, his latest move is just one more step down an ever-evolving, always-exciting path.

"I am truly grateful to be part of this team, and I am excited to get started," said Laragione during his assumption of responsibility ceremony. The ceremony, held in the Fort Detrick auditorium, featured brief comments from Brigadier General Michael Talley, Commanding General USAMRDC and Fort Detrick, who was quick to note Laragione's leadership style and abilities, and how those traits make him a key contributor in the overall USAMRDC effort moving forward.

"Command Sergeant Major Laragione is a proven leader of the highest caliber, and I have tremendous confidence that he will be a force multiplier for this Command," said Talley during the ceremony.

Prior to his assignment at USAMRDC, Laragione most recently served as Command Sergeant Major at Madigan Army Medical Center, located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Under his watch, Madigan notably launched the Department of Defense's new electronic health record system among numerous other wellness and protocol initiatives. Additionally, as part of the ongoing effort to combat novel coronavirus pandemic, Laragione was personally recognized for his work in establishing COVID-19 screening sites and checkpoints within the hospital itself.

Now, however, his sights are set on new and different priorities.

"When I think about MRDC, I think about the people developing and then delivering life-saving measures out to the Warfighter," said Laragione during an interview on August 6. "I'm looking forward to doing what I can to enable those that are actually doing the job – to increase the survivability of our Soldiers on the battlefield."

Indeed, Laragione says one of his key focus areas during his USAMRDC tenure will be professional development and the continued fostering of quality professional relationships between the USAMRDC's civilian employees and contractors; a desire that dovetails with longstanding Army dictum that the organization's greatest asset is its people.

Says Laragione, "It's important, I think, to develop our next generation of leaders. And that's what I want to focus on, taking care of people."

Originally from Texas, Laragione's only other experience on the east coast was at West Point in 2001, which makes his assignment at USAMRDC a return of sorts. The main difference between those days and now, however, is his family; and Laragione is eager to show his family – who made the more than 2,700 mile journey across country with him – the history of the area.

But first, the task at hand. For Laragione, he is eager to get up-to-speed during an integral time when the USAMRDC has a number of key and competing efforts taking place simultaneously. For him, such efforts are part of the reason his journey has been both so memorable, and so successful.

"To the teams of USAMRDC, you can count on me" said Laragione in closing during the ceremony. "I'm here to do my best to enable and support you."