Michele Willard | Army War College Foundation, INC. - Part 27

Army War College Foundation, INC.

Enriching, Enhancing & Encouraging

Michele Willard

Willus Hall, DDE ‘20

by

 

I serve as Commander of the 139th Regional Support Group in the Louisiana Army National Guard, and we are currently responsible for the main effort in our state with regard to COVID-19 response efforts. As of April 21st, we have completed 813 log pack missions, most of which involve delivery of critical CAT 1 PPE, and life-saving ventilators, which in this environment represent medical pacing items. I am also currently in DDE 2020 scheduled to graduate this July.

LTC Willus B. Hall
Distance Class of 2020
Louisiana ARNG

Dave Rhoads, DDE ‘16

by

 

I am one of a number of Ohio Army National Guard USAWC graduates working COVID-19 support directly with Governor DeWine’s office and Emergency Management Agencies across the state, as well as the Ohio Hospital Association.  Their combined leadership oversees the following missions for Ohio residents:

  1. Food Bank Support with approximately 470 personnel supporting humanitarian efforts with 13 food bank warehouses and local food banks throughout Ohio;
  2. Medical Surge Capacity supporting the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Emergency Management Agency to identify potential sites for use as alternate medical facilities;
  3. Prison Medical Support provides medical services, equipment, and transportation for patients if more serious acute care is needed;
  4. Personal Protective Equipment Collection supporting the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Department of Health with the state’s collection and storage of personal protective equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards; and
  5. Engineer Assessment and Design of identified alternate care sites across the state, in addition to direct support to three state prison facilities to assist in erecting tents to help segregate the infected population.

COL David S. Rhoads
Distance Class of 2016
Commander, 147th RTI, OHARNG

Lee Gearhart, RES ‘15

by

 

The COVID-19 fight is unlike any that has faced America’s Army Reserve. Part of the G1’s job in any organization is ensuring the Soldiers with the right skills can be in place at the right time. Matching provider specialties to six non-traditional formations (i.e., Urban Augmentation Medical Task Forces (UAMTFs)) comprised of 85 personnel, could prove difficult in even the best of times. This was a task that had to be deftly managed as Citizen-Soldiers were uprooted from their civilian lives to answer this awesome call to duty. What further complicated this mission was the fact many of these Soldiers were also engaged in the fight within their own communities. Leading a combined team of 25 Soldiers and Civilians, the G1 at the 3D Medical Command (Deployment Support) was able to balance the mission, personal health and well-being, and a complex work schedule, to ensure America’s Army Reserve answered the Nation’s call.

COL Lee P. Gearhart
Resident Class of 2015
G1, 3D Medical Command (Deployment Support)

John Wheeler, DDE’19

by

 

John is the Deputy G3 for the Washington Army National Guard. During the State’s COVID-19 response, he has been the lead planner for the G3. He and his team have been coordinating the response with the Emergency Management Division, the Joint Staff, and the Air National Guard. The Washington National Guard has supported Test Sites, Food Banks, and countless logistics functions throughout Washington since the crisis began.

LTC John M. Wheeler
Distance Class of 2019
Commander, 1-161 IN, 81st SBCT
Deputy G3, WAARNG

Jason Penry, NSS ‘17

by

 

Penry serves on the Texas A&M Foundation’s COVID-19 Task Force. The Foundation has approximately 175 team members and will complete a $4 billion fundraising campaign this year.

Jason C. Penry, Ph.D
National Security Seminar (NSS) 2017

John Pippy, DDE ‘17

by

 

John Pippy, DDE ‘17

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard is our ability to respond quickly when the citizens of our Commonwealth need us. There’s a special sense of pride and duty that comes along with aiding our fellow Pennsylvanians. When providing military support to civil authorities, I serve as the PA Task Force North (PTF-N) Commander and the FEMA Region 3 Homeland Response Force (HRF) Commander. These are joint organizations that are comprised of extremely capable Soldiers and Airmen with many specialties ranging from combat arms, engineer, military police, medical, chemical, logistics and other capabilities. In addition, the units identified as the Homeland Response Force and CBRN Task Force elements within the HRF conduct specialized training every year and are able to respond very quickly to domestic emergencies. Our CBRN Task Force unit was instrumental in the initial planning, set up, and the first few weeks of testing at the Montgomery County Community Based Testing Site-COVID-19 (CBTS); initially testing over 3700 individuals in a two-week period. They seamlessly integrated with the forces from PTF-South and transitioned the mission over to PTF-S after training them on safe testing and decon procedures. Following that first CBTS mission, members from the CBRN TF also helped plan, train and set up a second COVID-19 CBTS in Luzerne County. We responded quickly to mission needs starting in mid-March and currently we have had over 250 Soldiers and Airman from PTF-N supporting missions from testing sites, to medical site support, medical planning and a host of other support missions. Everyone is motivated and proud to serve.

COL John R. Pippy
Distance Class of 2017
Commander, 55 MEB, 28th ID
Commander, HRF FEMA Reg. III
PAARNG