National Guard | Army War College Foundation, INC. - Part 12

Army War College Foundation, INC.

Enriching, Enhancing & Encouraging

National Guard

Nick Ducich, DDE ‘14

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Nick Ducich, DDE ’14

By chance, I started my new assignment at National Guard Bureau on February 1st (2020) as the Vice Director of Operations (J-3/4/7). What timing… as upon arrival, COVID-19 became the primary focus of our efforts. When I arrived, the portfolio of the J3/4/7 Operations Directorate already spanned Current Ops (Counterdrug Program, Southwest Border Mission, and Puerto Rico Earthquake Recovery), Logistics and Provost Marshal requirements, Chemical Response Enterprise, Cyber, and Joint Training, in addition to our daily support to the Chief of National Guard Bureau. On Day 1 of my arrival, planning was already underway for the movement of U.S. Citizens from China to CONUS. This rapidly expanded in mere days with the cruise ship issues, then the first COVID-19 positive case in Washington State. As the virus expanded in reach, the J-3/4/7 established our Adaptive Battle Staff (ABS) construct to handle the daily focus and coordination requirements with each 54 National Guard (50 states, Washington DC, and 3 territories), OSD-HD, the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, the Services, FEMA, HHS, DLA, and respective Army and Air National Guard Director level Staffs. In a matter of days, the pandemic re-shaped the Staff and dramatically changed our approach to execute the continued synchronization against this threat while retaining oversight of the pre-existing operations. Throughout these first 90 days, assisting in the coordination and collaboration for the National Guard Response across the 54 brings an incredible sense of purpose. I remain in awe of the Citizen-Soldier toward their willingness to personally sacrifice in order to protect those at home and abroad.

BG Nick Ducich
Distance Class of 2014
Vice Director, NGB J-3/4/7
National Guard Bureau

Mike Pelzner, DDE ‘19

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I am currently the Chief Surgeon for the Army National Guard, shaping COVID-19 operations across the 54 states and territories from the National Guard Bureau. I am an Active Duty O-6. Most of the General Officers at NGB and in HQDA are USAWC grads.

Michael A. ‘Mike’ Pelzner, M.D.
Distance Class of 2019
COL, MC

Kevin McMahan, USAWCF ’13

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Kevin is the Title 32 Deputy Commander for all National Guard forces mobilized under the Dual Status Commander (Joint Task Force Steelhead). This nests well with his current assignment as the 96th Troop Command Commander and Homeland Response Commander for FEMA Region X. As of April 10, 2020, 374 Title 32 (National Guard) Airmen and Soldiers are supporting three COVID-19 test sites where they are physically running the site, along with 34 food banks that are distributing food to hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout Washington State.

COL Kevin D. McMahan
Army War College Fellow 2013

Bill Peace, RES ‘12

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I am the Deputy USP&FO (Property and Fiscal Officer) for New Jersey, directing the Property and Fiscal operations for the NJ National Guard. Our incredible team has been managing the NJ State Militia in accordance with Governor Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 response plan that had several hundred Soldiers and Airmen initially working on State Active Duty. On April 2nd, we began the transition to Federalized 502f duty supporting FEMA Mission Assignments throughout the state. As one of the first three States to request and be accepted for the transition, we have been answering a myriad of questions concerning how the State can receive supplies and equipment, and how the Federal force can assist while maintaining an auditable trail and staying within fiscal law and regulation. This includes forecasting and requesting funding in the correct categories. It also includes tracking Federal equipment and supplies utilized by the State by the 502f forces in our response in order to correctly account for costs. The total force is making a difference in these trying times.

COL (Ret) William L. ‘Bill’ Peace, Sr., DML
Resident Class of 2012
Joint Force Headquarters
New Jersey Army National Guard

Rick Roig, DDE ‘17

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Florida Army National Guard Colonel Ricard Roig was designated by the Adjutant General of Florida as Commander of Task Force 50th in March.  TF 50th became the Florida Guard’s main effort to fight COVID-19, with responsibility to coordinate and support state and local efforts to identify, establish, and staff COVID-19 Community Based Testing Site (CBTS) locations in the state’s largest counties: Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.  As of April 7th, TF 50th has set-up four CBTS locations, staffed a total of five CBTS sites with over 600 personnel, and has conducted over 20,000 sample collections (over three quarters of all sample collections gathered in the state) in those three counties.  In addition, TF 50th has also supported the state’s mission to assist the Florida Dept. of Health screening passengers arriving at Miami International, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach airports from COVID-19 hotspots.

COL Ricardo R. ‘Rick’ Roig
Distance Class of 2017

Brett Compston, DDE ‘19

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I am managing Inter-Agency interoperability and synchronized operations for the State of Nevada COVID-19 response (Nevada Military Department, Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Nevada Governor’s Office). I had to step out of my J3 role to conduct a rapid crisis action design project, restructure several interagency leadership and organizational structures at the request of the Governor’s office, and develop a holistic State of Nevada COVID response strategy when the TAG-NV was designated lead for COVID response operations in Nevada.

BRETT D. COMPSTON
Distance Class of 2019
LTC, AV
J3, Director Joint & Domestic Operations (NVNG)
CDR, 421st Regiment (RTI)