A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring the outstanding military service of Major General Michael L. Place.

WHEREAS, Major General Michael L. Place, a native of Huron, is retiring as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General (Support), U.S. Army Medical Command & Office of the Surgeon General after exemplifying courage, determination, and dedication in 36 years of military service; and

WHEREAS, Major General Place received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from John Hopkins University in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, his Medical Degree in General Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in 1991, and his Masters in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy in 2014, and is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit; and

WHEREAS, Major General Place completed assignments as regimental surgeon for the 75th Ranger Regiment, deploying to Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti; as instructor and director, medical operations branch, Leader Training Center, Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, becoming the first physician director of the Army Medical Department captains career courses; as staff family physician, Evans Army Community Hospital, Fort Carson, Colorado; as Commander, Medical Task Force 10, Stabilization Force 5, during the Kosovo Air Campaign; and as 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) division surgeon, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Major General Place commanded the 10th Combat Support Hospital, which included a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom as a medical task force commander; served as deputy commander for clinical services, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and served as the Commanding General, Regional Health Command-Atlantic, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the largest and most diverse facility within the US Army Medical Command; and

WHEREAS, Major General Place served as the Senior Medical Advisor in the Army Secretariat; was assigned as the Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs); commanded Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington; served as the Deputy Commanding General Regional Health Command-Pacific and Director, Hawaii Multi-Service Market; and most recently, served as the Commanding General, 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and

WHEREAS, Major General Place has been awarded and decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (four oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star (one oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Flight Surgeon Badge, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Ninety-Ninth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that Major General Michael L. Place, on the occasion of his retirement, has led a celebrated career of continuous achievement and devotion to duty.