National Guard

Dwayne Wilson, RES ‘14

The Georgia National Guard (comprised of some of the nation’s most adaptive and agile Soldiers, Airmen and Civilians) has done a tremendous job in supporting both our nation’s and our state’s COVID-19 response efforts. Our staff, commanders, and the service members in our formations have provided crucial support to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and many other state and local agencies, as well as partnering with both the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional office in Atlanta. We have been involved in numerous missions across our state in an effort to mitigate risk and minimize suffering for those dealing with the many challenges associated with this pandemic. Our formations have supported a very broad range of missions which have included providing facilities for quarantined passengers of the “Grand Princess” cruise ship; augmenting hospitals throughout the state with additional personnel to support their day-to-day operations (both medical and non-medical); creating “Infection Control Teams” in an effort to combat the spread of the virus in some of our most vulnerable, at-risk populations; providing Soldiers to staff local food banks to ensure those in need continue to receive meals during this crisis; and providing experienced liaison officers and staff members to other agencies throughout the state to assist in achieving unity of effort during our state’s response. Our Soldiers and Airmen, just like countless times throughout our nation’s history, have once again eagerly and selflessly risen to the challenge. I am extremely proud of their efforts and for the opportunity to serve with each and every one of them. We’re fortunate to have a great team here in Georgia. MG Tom Carden, TAG-GA (DDE ‘09), BG Randall Simmons, CG, GA ARNG (DDE ’13), and many other quality officers currently serving in key leadership assignments in our organization are also USAWC Alumni. MG John King (DDE ’12), who currently commands ARNORTH’s JTF-51, is also a Georgia National Guardsman and a USAWC grad. The experiences gained while attending the USAWC, and especially the relationships built while there, have certainly helped prepare me for the responsibilities of my current assignment.

BG R. Dwayne Wilson
Resident Class of 2014
Director, Joint Staff
Georgia National Guard

In early March, I reported to the 56SBCT Headquarters to head out on the Torch as the Brigade Executive Officer for our scheduled Warfighter at Fort Bragg. Shortly after I reported, we were notified that our participation in the Warfighter was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the Brigade HQ was going to activate the Pennsylvania Task Force – South (PTF-S) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Horsham Air Guard Station in order to respond to the epicenter of the Pennsylvania response in Montgomery County. For the next 10 days, I assisted in establishing the PTF-S EOC at Horsham and the first drive-through testing site in Pennsylvania.

LTC Reece J. Lutz
Distance Class of 2020

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

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

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