Fort Carson combat hospital gets new commander

Fort Carson’s 10th Combat Support Hospital welcomed a new commander Tuesday.

Col. Kimberlee A. Aiello took charge of the unit — also known as the 10th CASH and the Mountain Medics — in a change-of-command ceremony.

“I’m going to be meeting with each of the command teams and it’s my opportunity to first listen from them, (hear) what they’ve been doing, (learn) what their priorities are, (address) any concerns that they have,” she said.

Aiello’s last assignment was serving as a medical plans and operations officer for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Aiello’s new unit is designed to set up a combat hospital of up to 248 beds anywhere in the world.

She succeeds Col. James R. Andrews, who had commanded the unit since January 2013.

Andrews will become deputy chief of staff for health care operations at the Defense Health Agency in Falls Church, Virginia.