32d Medical Brigade Commander

COL Marc R. Welde was born in Spain in 1976, lived in Germany for the first 12 years of his life, and now calls Ogden, Utah his hometown. On 12 April 1998, he enlisted in the Utah National Guard where he served in the Simultaneous Membership Program. COL Welde graduated from Weber State University as a Distinguished Military Graduate in May 2000 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and was commissioned through ROTC into the Medical Service Corps. After completing the AMEDD Officer Basic Course, he was assigned as the Medical Platoon Leader in the 1-506th Infantry Battalion (AASLT), 2ID, in the Republic of Korea.

In June 2020, COL Welde completed a two year tour as the Commander of the US Army Medical Materiel Center-Korea. Most notable during this period was the procurement and distribution of all Joint service medical and PPE requirements for the COVID-19 pandemic response operation. His other assignments include Ambulance Platoon Leader, 25th Brigade Support Medical Company (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division; Executive Officer, 250th Forward Surgical Team (Airborne)during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Group Medical Logistics Officer, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne); and Commanding Officer, 551st Medical Company (Logistics). While in command of 551st MLC, he deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom where they provided world-class combat health logistics support to the entire theater. In 2009, he was selected to serve as the Senior Medical Operations Officer for the 75th Ranger Regiment where he served two combat tours in Afghanistan. In January 2013, COL Welde and his family moved to Germany where he was assigned as the Support Operations Officer, 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional). Shortly after arriving, he was selected to command a medical task force and Role 2E Hospital in support of NATO peace keeping operations in Kosovo (KFOR).

COL Welde returned to Baumholder to serve as the Executive Officer, 421st Medical Battalion (Multifunctional). In 2015 he became the chief of Distribution and Transportation Division and later the Deputy Commander (Operations) for the US Army Medical Materiel Center-Europe, where he served until June 2018.

COL Welde`s military education includes the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Medical Logistics Management Course, Ranger School where he was recognized as the Officer Leadership Honor Graduate, Airborne and Air Assault Schools, the Unit Movement Officer Course, the US Army Special Operations Command Static Line Jumpmaster Course, the Joint Medical Planners Course, the Command and General Staff Officers` Course, and most recently, the US Naval War College where he earned a master`s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He also holds a master`s degree in Human Resources from Chapman University.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (1 OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (5 OLC), the joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), the Afghanistan, Iraqi and Kosovo Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold Award), the Combat Medical Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. COL Welde is also a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit and the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe.

32d Medical Brigade Command Sergeant Major

Command Sergeant Major Gilberto Colon was born in Bronx, New York. Upon completion of high school he attended the University of Turabo, Gurabo Puerto Rico. He joined the Puerto Rico National Guard on January 1995 and served with it until December 1997. After completing Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood he was assigned to 1st Battalion 87th Medical Company where he completed his Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a 91EN5 (Dental Laboratory Specialist). He reclassified into a 91W (Healthcare Specialist), where he completed his medical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He had been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III while assigned to a Field Artillery unit of the 3rd Infantry Division. He also deployed to Iraq as the Medical Advisor to a Military Transition Team.

CSM Colon has served in a variety of assignments which include NCOIC, Troop Medical Clinic, Fort Benning, Georgia; Battalion Aid station NCOIC, HHB 5-5 Air Defense Artillery Regiment; Camp Sears, Korea; Platoon Sergeant, 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Department of Specialty Care and Operation NCO, USA MEDDAC Fort Eustis, Virginia; Medical NCOIC, United Stated Military Entrance Processing Command, Beckley, West Virginia; Senior Career Advisor, Enlisted Personnel Proponent Directorate; JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas, First Sergeant, A Co 232d Medical Battalion, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Operation NCO, AMEDD Personnel Proponent Directorate, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas; G3 Current Operation CSM, 18th MEDCOM (DS), Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii Chief Medical NCO for 101st Airborne Division Air Assault, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Command Sergeant Major, 187th Medical Battalion, Joint Base San Antonio, TX.

CSM Colon’s military education includes the Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Master Leaders Course, Command Sergeant Major Course Class 67, Company Commander First Sergeant Course, the Expert Field Medical Course, Hazmat Course, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Field Sanitation Course, Yellow Belt Lean Six Sigma, Facility Management, Advance Military Transition Team Course, Military Transition Team Course, Combat Capability Development Course, Master Resilience Training Course, the Health Service Plans, Operations, Intelligence, Security and Training Course. His civilian education includes a Master Degree in Healthcare Administration through the University of Phoenix, Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certification, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

CSM Colon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4th Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal (6th Award), National Defense Service Medal (1st Bronze Star), Iraq Campaign Ribbon (4th Bronze Star), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 3), and the Expert Field Medical Badge. CSM Colon is married and they have five children.