LENEXA, Kansas - Col. Gordon D. Kuntz will turn over command of the Kansas Army National Guard's Medical Detachment to Col. John D. Muther during a change of command ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. The 9 a.m. ceremony will take place at the Lenexa Armory, 18200 W 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa, Kan.

"It has been my privilege and honor to command the Kansas Medical Detachment for the past 26 months," said Kuntz. "The professionalism of the officers and enlisted personnel in the unit has remained very high and there has been incredible dedication and commitment to accomplishing the mission. The state of Kansas has consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally for medical readiness for the past two years and is on target to be there for three years in a row."

"It goes without saying that I am very proud of the Kansas Medical Detachment," Kuntz continued. "The unit has lived our motto 'Cura Militarium: Caring for the Soldier.' We have accepted the multitude of challenges presented before us and will continue to do so in the future."

"I am honored to take command of the Kansas Army National Guard Medical Detachment, a unit with a long, proud legacy of providing exceptional medical support to the soldiers of the Kansas National Guard," said Muther. "The Kansas Army National Guard Medical Detachment has been the standard bearer in this great nation for innovation, quality and efficiency. The Medical Detachment continues to lean forward in quality and efficiency in ensuring medically fit soldiers for deployment. The electronic periodic health assessment is just one example of the work the unit is doing to ensure a healthy ready force. I look forward to the challenges of ensuring a ready and fit force, as well as ensuring soldiers returning from deployment receive the medical care they need in order to maximize their wellness."

Col. John D. Muther
Col. John D. Muther enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1978. He received a direct commission in the Army Nurse Corps in 1991. He completed the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course in 1993 and began service in the Kansas Army National Guard's 891st Engineer Battalion. He worked in various positions at the Kansas Area Medical Detachment including clinical nurse, training officer head nurse, executive officer, and deputy commander of clinical services. He most recently served with the 56th Stryker Brigade, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, as brigade surgeon during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008-2009.
Muther's education includes a degree in nursing from Washburn University, Topeka, Kan. His military education includes the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Officer Advance Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College - Intermediate Level Education, U.S. Army War College Defense Strategy Course, Army Medical Department Executive Skills Course and is currently attending the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program.
Among his awards and decorations are the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters, Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass and M device, NCO Development Ribbon with Numeral II, Combat Medical Badge and the Expert Field Medical Badge.
His state awards include the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal, Kansas National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon, Kansas National Guard Commendation Medal, Kansas National Guard Achievement Ribbon, Kansas National Guard Homeland Defense Service Ribbon and the Kansas National Guard Service Medal with two sunflower devices. Other awards include the Order of Military Medical Merit.
Muther lives in Topeka Kan., with his wife, Nancy. They have two children, Kiersten and Kelsey.

Col. Gordon D. Kuntz
Col. Gordon D. Kuntz entered the United States Army on March 10, 1975, completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He then attended Common Basic Electronics Training for Tactical Microwave Repair at Fort Gordon, Ga., and was stationed at Fort Jackson as a common basic electronics training instructor. Kuntz reenlisted as a patient care specialist in 1978 and was assigned to the Pediatrics Unit at Madigan Army Medical Center Fort Lewis, Wash. One year later, he completed the patient care specialist long course and was assigned to Company B, 1st Medical Battalion, Fort Riley, Kan., until leaving active duty on Feb. 29 1984, with nine years active duty service.
After one year, Kuntz joined the Kansas Army National Guard and was assigned as the medical noncommissioned officer at the Kansas Military Academy in Salina, Kan., where he immediately entered Class 30 of the Kansas Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation, Kuntz remained as the medical noncommissioned officer for more than a year while he completed his nursing education. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry and assigned as a junior tactical officer at the Kansas Military Academy until the time of his direct commission in the Nurse Corps in January 1988, where he served as the nurse/medical officer at the academy.
His other duty assignments included clinical nurse, nurse practitioner, training officer and head nurse for Physical Examination Team B with Detachment 5, Headquarters, State Area Command, in Lenexa, Kan.
Kuntz served as the executive officer and deputy commander for the Kansas Area Medical Detachment prior to attending the U.S. Army War College in July 2006. After graduating in May 2007, he returned to Kansas and assumed command of the Kansas Area Medical Detachment in October 2007.
His education includes a bachelor's degree in nursing from Washburn University, Topeka, Kan., and a Master of Science in nursing from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.
He is a life time member of the National Guard Association of Kansas, a life time member of the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Kansas State Nurses Association.
Kuntz's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, Army Achieve Medal with silver oak leaf cluster and bronze oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, with one oak leaf cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, National Defense Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Numeral 2, Kansas Meritorious Service Ribbon, Kansas Achievement Ribbon, Kansas State Emergency Duty Service Ribbon, Kansas Service Medal with two Sunflower Devices, Louisiana Emergency Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Expert Field Medical Badge and the Order Of Military Medical Merit.
Kuntz lives in Hays, Kan., with his wife, Kara, and son, Zachary. His daughter, Pfc. Andrea Boles, is stationed in Hawaii. His son, Chad, lives in Olathe, Kan., son Christopher lives in Raymore, Mo., and daughter, Katherine, is a freshman at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.