Iowa Air National Guard Base, Sioux City, Iowa -- Lt. Col Debbie Jacobsmeier took command of the 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group during a formal Change of Command ceremony in Sioux City during the December training weekend.
During the ceremony Jacobsmeier officially took over for outgoing Medical Group Commander, Col. Glen Harden who is leaving the Air Guard after 11 years with the 185th.
As the Medical Group Commander Jacobsmeier will be responsible ensuring members of the Medical Group meet training requirements required for worldwide deployment. This Medical Group Commander is also responsible for the medical reediness of all 185th ARW unit members.
Jacobsmeier enlisted as a drill status guardsman with the 185th ARW in 1987. In the spring of 1988, she not only attended basic training, but completed Pharmacy Technician School. After completing Optometry Technician School in 1992, she earned her commission through Reserve Commissioned Office Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. in 2008. She attended Iowa State University and achieved a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and a Master of Business Administration from St. Ambrose University as well.
According to Jacobsmeier, she never imagined herself as the Medical Group Commander for the 185th ARW. She definitely never thought it would happen, especially when she was young and enlisted.
Jacobsmeier has some aspirations as the new Medical Group Commander and has already thought about tasks she wants to complete.
“My big goal right now is to learn all the different programs in the medical group and be knowledgeable about them, so I can see if there are any areas that we need to really improve upon regarding inspection readiness, and just make sure our compliance is as good as it can be,” said Jacobsmeier.
Along with working as the Medical Group Commander for the 185th ARW, she also works full time as a cytotechnologist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City looking for cancer in cellular samples.