Tripler Army Medical Center  –   Col. Michael D. Ronn assumed command of Tripler Army Medical Center during a ceremony at the hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 7, 2023. Col. Edgar Arroyo, Medical Readiness Command, Pacific chief of staff, presided over the ceremony. Tripler’s last commander, Col. Bill Soliz, relinquished command of the hospital on May 19, 2023 in order to lead Medical Readiness Command, Pacific. Col. Cory Plowden, commander of the Desmond Doss Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks, served as interim commander.

During the ceremony, Ronn expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Tripler ʻOhana — Hawaiian for “family” and leading the staff to execute the hospital’s mission. “Together, we have an immense responsibility to safeguard the health, well-being, and readiness of those who have dedicated their lives in service to our country,” Ronn said. “I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to execute this mission.”

Ronn previously served as commander of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Healthcare Facility and U.S. Army Health Clinic Brussels in Belgium. He is the first pharmacy officer to assume command of an Army medical center. Ronn commissioned in the U.S. Army as a pharmacy officer in 2003 after earning a doctorate in pharmacy from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy. He has since served in the United States, Iraq, Germany and Belgium. He graduated from the U.S. Army War College with a master’s degree in strategic studies in 2021.

Tripler supports 264,000 active duty and retired military personnel, their families, and veteran beneficiaries. In addition, the referral population includes 171,000 military personnel, family members, veteran beneficiaries, residents of nine U.S. affiliated jurisdictions and forward-deployed forces in more than 40 countries throughout the Pacific.