Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs

White Sands Missile Range welcomed McAfee U.S. Army Health Clinic Commander Lt. Col. Marc Skinner during a change of command ceremony June 3.

White Sands Missile Range welcomes McAfee U.S. Army Health Clinic Commander Lt. Col. Marc Skinner

White Sands Missile Range welcomed McAfee U.S. Army Health Clinic Commander Lt. Col. Marc Skinner during a change of command ceremony June 3.

Skinner hit the ground running and welcomed three VIPs to the clinic in June. He welcomed

Brig. Gen. Shan K. Bagby, Commanding General, Brooke Army Medical Center on June 9;

the Surgeon General of the United States Army and Commander of U.S. Army Medical Command, Lt. Gen. Raymond S. Dingle on June 29; and Defense Health Agency Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Gragg June 30.

Skinner, who is originally from the Midwest, comes to WSMR from Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was the Specialty Department Chief, with seven specialties (PT, orthopedics, chiropractic, OT, GI, dermatology, gynecology), permanently assigned to the organization, and coordinating for multiple specialists from Walter Reed to provide clinical care at Kimbrough, such as urology and pediatric nephrology.

“Home is where the heart is – for now, that is WSMR,” Skinner said. “I am from the Midwest and my wife is from south Florida – we won’t retire to either location. I love mountains, so WSMR and New Mexico are checking all sorts of boxes, and the community here is fantastic.”

Skinner said he enlisted into the infantry in the early 90’s, serving in 3rd Ranger Battalion.

“I hurt my shoulder on a routine airborne jump that required physical therapy. I was already interested in musculoskeletal anatomy, and going to physical therapy was an epiphany for me for what I wanted to do as a long-term career,” he said. “I worked for 5 ½-6 years on the civilian side as a PT, when a medical recruiter contacted me. This was several years after 9-11; I thought I had the skill set the Army could use, and since I had already served, knew and embraced the Army culture. That was more than 13 years ago.”

Skinner said he decided to pursue a career in the medical field because medicine is in his family blood.

“My grandfather was a physician, there are nurses galore in the family, two speech and hearing therapists, and a dentist. To say I have been interested in the life sciences for as long as I can remember is no tall tale. That fateful airborne operation that led me to physical therapy was truly fortuitous. It took a lot of hard work and some lucky breaks, but I have been blessed to pursue and achieve my dream of being a physical therapist.”

Skinner said his primary focus is to take care of Team McAfee as he starts his command.

“People First – they are the ones who deliver healthcare, producing medically-ready Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Guardians, and ensure the health and safety of the WSMR workforce,” Skinner said. “When we faithfully execute our healthcare mission, readiness is the natural outcome – a medically ready force and a ready medical force.”

Skinner said McAfee is also unique in the support it provides to the DoD’s only nuclear fast burst reactor; fostering a robust surety program with redundancies and effective quality assurance programs to keep the reactor workforce safely working is a high priority for him. “McAfee also has the unique privilege to plan and execute medical support for WSMR’s Super Bowl, the Bataan Memorial Death March; ensuring the safety of the volunteer workforce and providing medical oversight for the largest planned mass casualty event is a massive undertaking, but one I am excited to see the team accomplish.”

During his free time, Skinner enjoys spending time with his family, preferably doing something in the great outdoors. “I enjoy hiking, camping, and backpacking. My two main hobbies, though, are photography and brewing beer.”

“I think most folks are surprised that I served as a team leader and squad leader in the 75th Ranger Regiment, that I am a former collegiate certified athletic trainer, and that I brew beer.”