Maj. Gen. James Gilman, commander of U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick receives the Medical Command flag as a symbol of the change of command June 11 at Fort Detrick’s Blue and Gray Field.
First on his agenda is to make sure the U.S. Medical Research and Materiel Command becomes the place that brings medical military and civilian communities together said Maj. Gen. James Gilman, MRMC and Fort Detrick commander.
He says the most exciting part about his job will be meeting the people who make up MRMC.
‘‘They see the Army medicine through a different lens than I do. It will be exciting to learn their perspective,” said Gilman.
Gilman spent most of his 31 years working in a hospital. He has two goals for himself; first to learn more about research and development, and its procedures and processes in the span of three months.
‘‘I think the most challenging part for me is that there are so many people who have different expertise and are very technical which means they have their own vocabulary that I have to learn,” he said.
‘‘Parts of this command span around the globe. I would like to connect with them as fast as I can. I want to see people where they are as quickly as possible,” said Gilman.
His second goal is find out if there are any changes that need to occur.
Early in his career, he learned to see the big picture, thanks to mentors who, emphasized credibility and the need to put in hard work in every task.
‘‘I was taught that completing a task wasn’t going to be a sales pitch, you had to know your stuff,” said Gilman.
If you want to get on his good side fast, talk about golf. Not only does he like golf, but he likes to read and travel. His family’s favorite vacation spot is Disney World. Raised in churches, family values are especially important to the Gilman family.
‘‘In the past, I was involved with different groups like the family readiness group,” said Jeffre Gilman, wife of Maj. Gen. James Gilman.
The high school sweethearts said they have enjoyed every duty station.
‘‘It’s best not to compare duty stations. You should take advantage of what each place has to offer,” said Jeffre Gilman. ‘‘Fort Detrick and the Frederick community actually remind both of us of our hometowns. We are enjoying it here.”
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