McMorrow takes command of medical detachment at Kentucky Air Guard

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Vicky Spesard
  • 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  Lt. Col. Brian McMorrow accepted command of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Medical Group Detachment 1, CERFP, during an assumption-of-command ceremony here May 20.

The CERFP — short for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosive Enhanced Response Force Package — is designed to provide immediate response capability to the governor of a state affected by a terrorist or enemy attack. Team members would search an incident site, rescue and decontaminate casualties, and provide medical treatment to stabilize patients for transport to a medical facility.

The Air Guard detachment is the medical component of a joint-service package that also includes search-and-recovery, decontamination, command-and-control and communications functions.

During the ceremony, the detachment guidon was passed to McMorrow from Col. Michael Cooper, commander of the 123rd Medical Group, who also recognized McMorrow’s substantial contributions.

“Lt. Col. McMorrow was integral in standing up the CERFP element, and now he has earned the privilege of leading it as your next commander,” Cooper said to unit members attending the ceremony in the Base Annex. “I have complete confidence in him to be the commander that you deserve.”

McMorrow previously served as the medical plans and operations officer for the CERFP and provided leadership to more than 50 Airmen to support both domestic-response operations and overseas medical support missions.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Guilford College and was commissioned through Commissioned Officer Training School in 2002 as a distinguished graduate.

McMorrow served for more than six years on active duty and has been a member of the Kentucky Air National Guard for seven. He is a veteran of two overseas tours in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and was instrumental in the initial stand-up of the first-ever joint Kentucky CERFP.

Speaking to the audience, McMorrow praised the Airmen under his command for their dedication to the mission.

“I can’t thank you enough for how you put this state and this nation ahead of yourselves and your families; our training table is so robust,” McMorrow said. “Going forward, this is no time to let off the gas. There is so much more to be done.

“I want your professional goals to be met, and I will be there to support you,” he continued. “We’re going to train and be proficient in our jobs, and we’re going to move forward. We’re going to show why the Kentucky CERFP is the team to beat.”