Col. Kenneth D. Spicer

U.S. Army Medical Service Corps

Colonel Kenneth D. Spicer is the Commander of Public Health Command Europe. He assumed command in June 2021.

He is a 1998 graduate of The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where he earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Forest Biology, and Forest Resource Management. As distinguished military graduate, he was commissioned a Medical Service Corps Second Lieutenant from the Syracuse University Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 2007, he completed a Master of Health Science degree in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

His initial assignment was the Chief, Environmental Health, Wuerzburg Medical Activity in Wuerzburg, Germany. In 2002, he assumed the duties of Executive Officer, 255th Medical Detachment in Grafenwoehr, Germany, and deployed with the unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to March 2004. COL Spicer’s utilization assignment following graduate school was the Division Environmental Science and Engineering officer with 1st Armored Division in Wiesbaden, Germany. He deployed again to OIF from September 2007 to December 2008 with Task Force Iron in Multinational Division-North. From August 2009 to June 2012, COL Spicer served as the Medical Intelligence, Operations, and Plans Officer for Public Health Command Region-Europe in Landstuhl, Germany. During this assignment, he also served as the secretary of the NATO Force Health Protection Working Group, addressing critical environmental and public health issues at the highest levels of the international military medical community. He assumed command of the 172nd Medical Detachment in August 2012 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, deploying with his unit in support of the Hurricane Sandy relief effort to New Jersey and New York. After command, COL Spicer served as the battalion Executive Officer for the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion from July 2013 to June 2014 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He completed Training with Industry as the Army scientific fellow at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California from July 2014 to July 2015. After serving as Chief, Preventive Medicine at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center from July 2015 to May 2016, COL Spicer commanded Public Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz until June 2018, and then served as the Command Inspector General for Regional Health Command Europe through June 2021. He is a graduate of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Command and General Staff College, and War College. COL Spicer holds the 6Z Defense Strategist additional skill identifier from the Army War College Defense Strategy course, as well as the 5N ASI from the Army Inspector General School. He also holds board certifications as a Certified Industrial Hygienist and a Certified Safety Professional.

COL Spicer’s military awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal (with one Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with five Oak Leave Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal Army (with three campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral five, and the Order of Military Medical Merit. He also proudly earned and wears the Expert Field Medical Badge.

Master Sgt. Ilker Irmak

Master Sergeant Ilker Irmak enlisted in the United States Army and attended Basic Combat Training at Ft. Jackson, SC. He completed Optical Laboratory Specialist (68H) Military Occupational Skills Advanced Individual Training at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, VA in June 2005.

MSG Irmak’s past assignments include Optical Laboratory Specialist, U.S. Army Medical Material Center Europe (USAMMCE), Pirmasens, Germany; Optical Laboratory NCOIC, 582nd Medical Logistics Company, Fort Hood, TX; Platoon Sergeant, 582nd Medical Logistics Company, Fort Hood, TX; Optical Laboratory NCOIC, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital (GLWACH), Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Advanced Individual Training Instructor/Writer, Delta Company, 187th Medical Battalion, Cadre NOSTRA, VA; Operations NCO, U.S. Army Medical Material Center Europe (USAMMCE), Pirmasens, Germany; HHD Detachment Sergeant, U.S. Army Medical Material Center Europe (USAMMCE), Pirmasens, Germany; Operations NCO, 56th Medical Battalion (Multifunctional), Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA; First Sergeant, 551st Medical Company (Logistics), Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. He also served one combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09.

MSG Irmak’s military and civilian education include NCO Professional Development Courses: Basic Leader Course, Advanced Leader Course, Senior Leader Course, and Master Leader Course. Military Courses including Combat Lifesaver Course, Combat Stress Control Course, Combatives Level 1 Course, Basic Instructor Course, Cadre Training Course, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Field Sanitation Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Course, Company Commander’s and First Sergeant’s Course, and Jungle Operations Training Course. He earned his Associate’s Degree in General Studies from the American Military University and the national American Board of Opticianry Certification.

MSG Irmak’s awards include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal (14th award), Navy Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (14th award), Navy Achievement Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (1 Bronze Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 4, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, and the Driver’s Badge.

He has earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, the German Schuetzenschnur (Gold), the German Army Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), Order of Military Medical Merit, and is a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy and the Sergeant Morales Club.