U.S. Navy Capt. Grace Key relinquished command of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Quantico to Capt. Brookes Williams during a change of command ceremony at Harry Lee Hall, MCB Quantico, Virginia, May 22.

“We find support within each other at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Quantico by working as a team all while providing quality care to our patients,” said Key, who received her doctorate in 1997 from the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. “That’s the reason I joined, to serve and provide support and proper medical care to our warfighters.”

Quantico’s clinic is operated by federal personnel who provide medical care to service members, their spouses, their children and retirees.

While in command of NHCQ, Key enabled readiness for 174 units and 130,000 beneficiaries in the Quantico and Naval District Washington area. During the ceremony, Key received the Legion Merit Medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct for outstanding performance as commanding officer.

Now, Key is headed to United States Naval Ship Comfort-TAH 20, a 1,000-bed hospital ship commissioned in 1986, where she will be the new commanding officer. Currently, there are only two dedicated hopital ships in the U.S. Navy, which provide U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian efforts worldwide.

To end the ceremony, Key thanked those in attendance of the ceremony, then passed the stage onto the oncoming officer, Williams.

“I am looking forward to coming back to Quantico and becoming a part of the team here at NHCQ," said Williams, who previously served as the executive officer for Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Bethesda. “I will continue to instill the high standards that Key has successfully upheld while being the commanding officer.”