BG Michelle Rose, DDE ’14
I’m working as the Director of Logistics and Engineering at U.S. NORTHCOM and we are most definitely in the fight! Yes, it’s been a crash course in medical logistics planning to ensure the fielded force has what is needed for this response. Class VIII (medical) is not normally in the logistics and supply lane as medical supply is managed by the medical community. However, we at NORTHCOM, as well as the Joint Staff J4 and Surgeon General, have collaborated and coordinated with many agencies across the Joint Logistics Enterprise (JLENT) to ensure we get PPE (personal protective equipment) and medical supplies to where they need it the most…field hospitals, nursing homes, and the hospital ships, all where we have DoD medical personnel and units actively engaged in support of the interagency. The agencies include DHA (Defense Health Agency), DLA (Defense Logistics Agency), HHS (Health and Human Services), and FEMA, a truly whole-of-government effort. As of April 14th, we have Air Force and Army field hospitals, Navy Expeditionary Medical Facilities, and Urban Army Medical Task Forces, all with DoD medical specialties spread across 9 major metropolitan areas in support of HHS. We are ready to support where the nation needs us, across the 50 states and territories, by providing support directly to hospitals or at ACF (alternate care facilities) provided by FEMA and/or local/state agencies. By the way, we have been at this response for COVID-19 since late January, when DoD in support of HHS, responded to requests to provide quarantine locations at DoD facilities first for American citizens from China, those that came off of several cruise ships, and citizens who came back through commercial airports.
BG Michelle M. Rose
Distance Class of 2014
Director of Logistics and Engineering
NORAD and USNORTHCOM/J4
