USARIEM welcomes new senior enlisted Leader
In a Change of Responsibility Ceremony on June 1st, the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine welcomed its new senior enlisted leader at the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts. Sgt. 1st Class Dominic Marconi assumed the responsibility of Senior Enlisted Leader from Master Sgt. Nicholas Rogers.
"Today we witness one of the most important roles of the United States Army–the passing of the unit colors from one [non-commissioned officer] to the next," said Col. Troy Morton, USARIEM commander. "This single act points to the importance of our unit flag, which represents every member of team USARIEM. It is for this reason that the senior enlisted leader takes responsibility for our flag."
Morton welcomed Marconi to the USARIEM team.
"We are excited to have you here and for you to join our team. We are looking forward to forging the future with you," said Morton.
Marconi comes to USARIEM from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he served as the Foundational Sciences Directorate senior medical laboratory NCO.
"I am very grateful for giving me the opportunity to be a name in the storied history of [the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command] and especially USARIEM," said Marconi. "I look forward to great things to come."
Marconi, a native to Salem, New Hampshire, began his U.S. Army career in June 1996 as a mechanized infantryman. Marconi was first assigned to the C Company 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry in Vilseck, Germany, with whom he deployed to Bosnia in 1997. Throughout his career as a medical laboratory specialist, he has served in multiple roles in and outside of the laboratory. As his career progressed, he took on more leadership roles as the non-commissioned officer-in-charge until he ultimately selected to be the senior enlisted leader for USARIEM.
Rogers parted with thanks and praise to the USARIEM team and well wishes for Marconi.
"You are inheriting a great group of Soldiers and civilians and an incredibly important mission. I look forward to seeing where USARIEM goes under your guidance," said Rogers.
Rogers is retiring after 20 years in the Army.
"Master Sgt. Rogers, you are heroic, you are noble, you are a strong warrior … and most importantly you truly care for the entire team of USARIEM," said Morton. "To quote a Fort Leonard Wood drill sergeant I know from 1991, 'You are the tip of the sword,' and truly a mentor to USARIEM."
USARIEM is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command under the Army Futures Command. USARIEM is internationally recognized as the DOD's premier laboratory for Warfighter health and performance research and focuses on environmental medicine, physiology, physical and cognitive performance, and nutrition research. Located at the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts, USARIEM's mission is to optimize Warfighter health and performance through medical research.