Dover welcomes Col. Sharon Bannister, new 436th MDG commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Airmen from the 436th Medical Group welcomed a new commander July 20 at The Landings Club.

Col. Sharon Bannister assumed command of the 436th MDG from Col. Timothy Pendergrass, who is departing Dover to become the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany.

Colonel Bannister comes to Dover from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Va., where she earned a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy. Colonel Bannister began her military career in 1992 when she was commissioned as a Captain in the Air Force Dental Corps following her graduation from Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry.

The colonel has also served as a staff general dentist, an officer in charge of a Hospital Dental Clinic, Deputy Hospital Commander for the 4409 Air Base Wing, Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabia; Chief of Clinical Dentistry, Aeromedical Dental Squadron deputy commander, Chief of Periodontics and Director of Postgraduate Education and Training Officer for the Periodontics Flight at Wilford Hall Medical Center, and Commander of a Dental Squadron.

"Colonel Bannister's record is filled with accolades, from her first post-residency assignments to today," said Col. Manson Morris, 436th Airlift Wing commander.

"She has received comments such as 'a stellar performer who outshined all assigned company grade officers' from her supervisor, she has been recognized as Air Mobility Command's Junior Dental Officer of the Year and two-time squadron CGO of the Year Awards, as well as sustaining a 4.0 GPA throughout a three-year periodontics residency, placing her at the top of her peers," said Colonel Morris.

Team Dover is blessed to gain an officer with such an outstanding track record who has proven herself ready for the challenges ahead, said the wing commander.

Colonel Bannister said she felt a sense of belonging serving in the military and has had many mentors to help her along her career path to help her become who she is today.

"I'm very humbled and honored to have the opportunity to work with the true professionals at Dover Air Force Base," said Colonel Bannister. "Though I have not been here for very long, I already feel like part of the team and part of a family here."