In the Kentucky National Guard (KYNG), we currently have about 1000 members engaged in supporting some aspect of our state’s pandemic response. Our folks are involved with everything from food distribution center support for those in need, to additional security presence at numerous hospitals around the state, to staffing a medical call-in center. Perhaps the most significant mission thus far was converting the Louisville Fairgrounds & Exposition Center into an Acute Care Facility (ACF). Its current capacity is 276 beds and can be expanded to 2000 if needed. This ACF is fully staffed by medical professionals from the KYNG, both the Air & Army components. Virtually everything we do is in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, Emergency Management, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, and other state and local government entities. Thus, from a military perspective, it genuinely represents a joint effort. This is not only a whole of government response but a whole of community response. To me, the militarily pertinent aspect of our response is that while we’re engaged, as described above, at the same time we have members of the KYNG deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and even domestically to the Southwest border. I’m proud of the responsiveness and professionalism of our folks.
BG Haldane ‘Hal’ B. Lamberton
Resident Class of 2009
The Adjutant General of Kentucky
