LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen from the Laughlin Operational Medical Readiness Squadron (LOMRS) gathered to witness a transition of leadership as Lt. Col. Avis McCaslin relinquished command to Lt. Col. Katrina Dyke during a change of command ceremony June 18, 2026.
Col. Kelly Vermillion, Laughlin Medical Group commander, presided over the ceremony and praised McCaslin for her leadership and commitment to LOMRS.
“Lt. Col. McCaslin’s belief that as a leader’s primary duty is to model what right looks like has been the cornerstone of her command, and the remarkable success of this unit is a direct reflection of that philosophy,” said Vermillion.
During her tenure, McCaslin oversaw over 24,500 patient visits and shattered access to care metrics, slashing wait times to one day to secure the number one ranking in the defense health agency network. She also drove the 47th Flying Training Wing’s dental readiness to the number rate in Air Education and Training Command at 99.4%. Furthermore, McCaslin established the Wing’s first victim advocate program.
“You all won awards, promoted and showed off your talents and strengths,” said McCaslin. “You gave your all, and I can only pray that you felt me give my all right back, too.”
Dyke will now lead the LOMRS in administering healthcare to over 1,200 active duty members on the installation. Prior to assuming command, Dyke was the allergy flight commander for the Lackland Medical Specialty Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
“Excellence is not an exception. It’s a prevailing attitude,” said Dyke. “That attitude of excellence is already front and center in your work.”
The LOMRS provides primarily active duty healthcare services in Flight Medicine, Optometry, Health and Wellness, Dental, Public Health, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Mental Health, and Medical Readiness.
“To my team again, it has been a privilege to serve you, and my love for God was a driving force behind why and how I led you,” said McCaslin.