MAJOR COMMAND: Navy Captain Richard L. Haberberger Jr., a native of East St. Louis, recently took command of the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, Md.

Haberberger, a 1969 graduate of Assumption High School, is a 26-year veteran of the navy. His mother, Patricia Ann Haberberger, lives in Ellis Grove, Ill. His father, Richard L. Haberberger Sr., is deceased.

As Commanding Officer for the center, Haberberger is also director of the Naval Medical Research and Development enterprise, which includes nine U.S. Navy biomedical commands and detachments worldwide.

Haberberger got his undergraduate degree in Biology from Rockhurst College in 1973; his master’s degree in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1975; and his Ph.D. in Community Health from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale in 1983. He completed an Executive M.B.A. through Colorado Technical University in February 2006.

During the speech that accompanied the change of command ceremony for Haberberger, he thanked his wife of 36 years, Cindy, and his daughters Lori, Sarah and Amy “who suffered through moves, loss of friends and disappointments of my absences at life events.

“They’ve also dealt with the other challenges of military life and yet succeeded in becoming fine young women and mothers, and the joy of my wife and my life. …”

Some of Haberberger’s previous duty stations have included the Naval Biosciences Laboratory in Oakland, Calif.; a Naval research unit in Cairo, Egypt; the Navy Forward Deployed Laboratory at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia; and the Office of Secretary of Defense for Helath Affairs in Falls Church, Va.

He has more than 35 peer-reviewed publications in the field of infectious diseases research. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, and the Overseas Service Ribbon with Silver Star.