Monday, November 23, 2020

DOD Statement on Transition Activities

 Nov. 23, 2020


The Department has received notice that pursuant to the Presidential Transition Act, the GSA Administrator is making certain post-election resources and services available to the Biden-Harris Transition Team. This evening, DOD has been contacted by the Biden-Harris team and their designated lead for the DOD Agency Review Team and, based on the ascertainment by the GSA Administrator, we will begin immediately implementing our plan to provide support in accordance with statute, DOD policy and the memorandum of agreement between the White House and the Biden-Harris team.  The DOD Transition Task Force will arrange and coordinate all DOD contact with the Biden-Harris team.  DOD is prepared to provide post-election services and support in a professional, orderly, and efficient manner that is befitting of the public’s expectation of the Department and our commitment to national security.

Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller's Phone Call With Australian Minister for Defence Reynolds

 Nov. 23, 2020


On November 23, Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller spoke with Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds to reaffirm the enduring strength of the U.S.-Australia Alliance – the Unbreakable Alliance.  They committed to sustain progress on Alliance priorities, including outcomes from the Australia-U.S. Ministerial (AUSMIN) meeting in July.  They reiterated their support for likeminded approaches to the serious threats to stability currently facing Indo-Pacific nations.  Secretary Miller and Minister Reynolds acknowledged increased alignment in both nations’ perspectives and approach in addressing pressing regional and global security concerns, emphasizing the shared goal in maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific – founded on existing international law and norms and a region free of malign behavior.

Pendleton Pullup

 

Marine Lance Cpl. Raymond Glenn Jr. does a pullup during a squadron field day at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 13, 2020. The event was held as part of the Marine Corps’ birthday celebration.

Rope Bridge

 

U.S. and Indonesian soldiers learn basic rope and knot techniques during the 2020 Indonesia Platoon Exchange at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Nov. 19, 2020. Soldiers from both armies put their knot-tying skills to the test by tying and traversing a one-rope bridge while pulling a simulated casualty.

Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller's Phone Call With Singapore Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen

 Nov. 23, 2020


Today, Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller spoke on the phone with his Singapore counterpart, Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen.  The two leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the U.S.-Singapore bilateral defense relationship.  Acting Secretary Miller expressed appreciation for the regional access Singapore provides to U.S. forces, and both leaders expressed interest in further collaboration on U.S force posture.  Finally, Acting Secretary Miller and Minister Ng noted that they look forward to meeting virtually next month at the Association for Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

Northern Lights

 

A Marine stands watch during a cold weather training event in Setermoen, Norway, Nov. 12, 2020, in preparation for Reindeer II, a bilateral exercise hosted by the Norwegian military to increase support capabilities between NATO allies in extreme conditions.

Sea Ops

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexis Barker and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy Gorospe, prepare a suction apparatus during a fire drill aboard the USS Shiloh in the East China Sea, Nov. 14, 2020.

Force Fire

 

Marines fire a 120 mm mortar round during a live-fire training in Kuwait, Nov. 17, 2020.

PPE Delivery

 

Army Lt. Col. Pamela Johnson, right, assigned to Civil Affairs East Africa, in support of Combined Joint Task Force--Horn of Africa delivered personal protective equipment to the Office of National Assistance to Refugees and Disaster in Djibouti City, Djibouti, Nov. 18, 2020. CJTF-HOA provided basic PPE to the national stockpile for use and distribution to the general population of Djibouti City.

Distribution Point

Texas Guardsmen participate in a food point of distribution in support of the Tarrant Area Food Bank's mission to provide meals to Texans prior to Thanksgiving in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 20, 2020. Since April, the Texas Military Department has provided support to food banks across the state of Texas to serve local communities in response to increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Distribution Point

 

Texas Guardsmen participate in a food point of distribution in support of the Tarrant Area Food Bank's mission to provide meals to Texans prior to Thanksgiving in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 20, 2020. Since April, the Texas Military Department has provided support to food banks across the state of Texas to serve local communities in response to increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Force Fuel

 

An Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker prepares to refuel a B-52 Stratofortress during a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2020.

DOD Awards $565,000 Contract to Freeman Manufacturing Co. to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Disposable Gowns

 Nov. 23, 2020


On Nov. 20, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded a $565,000 contract to Freeman Manufacturing Co. to increase domestic production capability of disposable gowns.

This industrial base expansion effort will allow Freeman to increase production capacity of disposable gowns in Sturgis, Michigan by 1.5 million gowns annually by April 2021, to support domestic gown manufacturing.

The DOD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition Cell led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition COVID-19 Task Force.  This effort was funded through the HHS Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources.

Defense Department Launches Initiative to Boost U.S. Industrial Workforce

 Nov. 23, 2020


One of the most vital challenges for the U.S. defense industrial base is the deficit in domestic manufacturing and engineering talent. In order to address this problem head-on, the Defense Department recently awarded its first nine prototyping projects, valued at nearly $27 million, as part of the launch of the “National Imperative for Industrial Skills” initiative, or “the Skills Imperative.” The awards are an initial step in reigniting U.S. industrial modernization and to restoring the nation as the world’s high-tech leader.

Earlier this year, DOD's industrial policy office issued a standing, five-year request to academia and industry for innovative prototyping proposals to address selected key segments of the industrial skills workforce development ecosystem. These initial awards will build manufacturing prestige across the nation, with awards in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. With additional awards planned for fiscal year 2021, the Skills Imperative will continue to marshal a nationwide focus to provide needed workers for the industrial base.

Led by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program office in the office of the deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy, the Skills Imperative enables the United States to build its next generation of combat ships, submarines, aircraft, ground vehicles, missiles, and other platforms and weapon systems. This effort directly addresses the loss of vital skills in the domestic workforce -- a challenge identified in the Executive Order 13806 Report titled “Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States.”

Jeffrey “Jeb” Nadaner, deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial policy said “a skilled workforce has been the bedrock of our economic security and when needed our national security. The next arsenal of democracy will be built by American hands and creative minds. Thousands of manufacturing jobs in our defense industrial base await Americans seeking careers with purpose and fulfillment. Whether building automobiles, aircraft carriers or nuclear submarines, the Skills Imperative invites industry allies to rally alongside the department and help Americans develop the necessary skills to be part of these production efforts.”

Adele Ratcliff, the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program office director, said, “I am confident that this effort will enable greater stakeholder cooperation across the U.S. industrial base and encourage more partners to come forward to join the effort to drive sufficient scale and velocity into our industrial workforce development pipelines, all with the end goal of elevating U.S. manufacturing to world-leading status.”

The Skills Imperative is a call to action to strengthen our economic and national security. Those interested in answering this call can email osd.pentagon.ousd-a-s.mbx.ibas@mail.mil to learn more about the Skills Imperative or how to join the IBAS program’s Cornerstone Consortium of members eligible to propose prototyping efforts.

Operation Warp Speed Refines Vaccine Delivery Plan

 Nov. 23, 2020 | BY LISA SIMUNACI, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS

While the reality of a COVID-19 vaccine inches closer, the team at Operation Warp Speed is refining its plan to deliver doses across the country. 

Charged with developing and delivering a vaccine to 300 million Americans, Operation Warp Speed paired military planners with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work the details of a monumental plan. 

A display of paperwork and COVID-19 prevention items are on a desk.

"The CDC brings a lot to the table. They get vaccines out every year, from children's immunizations to the flu vaccine," Operation Warp Speed Director for Supply, Production and Distribution Paul Ostrowski said. "So the CDC, Health and Human Services and our Department of Defense Planners, who got after the manufacturing piece and are working with the states to plan for every distribution contingency — create a powerful force." 

At the core of the distribution plan are the basic tenets of visibility, coverage, uptake and traceability, Ostrowski explained. Visibility of the vaccine is essential, particularly since the number of doses up front will be limited. 

"We need visibility — not only of vaccines, but of the ancillary items we're distributing, like syringes and needles, because the scrutiny will be unprecedented and we want to know what we have and where it is," Ostrowski said. 

Coverage is the broad dissemination, as this vaccine will be pushed beyond traditional administration channels to ensure everyone who needs it gets it. 

Two men review paperwork in an office.

"We have to go beyond brick and mortar," Ostrowski said. "We have to get this to the long-term care facilities, to meat packing plants. We have to go mobile to be able to cover the entire country and not depend on people to come to us."

Uptake is managing the supply and demand.

"We want to make sure we don't have imbalances with overages in one place and shortages in another," he said.

Traceability is also a top concern, Ostrowski said, noting five of the six vaccines require two doses. 

"The vaccines are not interchangeable," he said. "We need the ability to verify the manufacturer and to notify the recipient when it is time for their second dose."

While Operation Warp Speed will deliver vaccine shipments as directed by the jurisdictions, it will be up to the states, territories and major metropolitan areas to further define where the doses ultimately go. 

A person holds a vaccine record card.

Operation Warp Speed is using a software platform called Tiberius, which incorporates state and local data and provides decision-support tools to help jurisdictions finalize their micro plans. Information technology specialists have also been provided to assist jurisdictions understand and maximize the Tiberius platform. 

The states collectively received $200 million toward the effort, and $140 million more is destined to arrive before the end of the year. As local plans become more refined, Ostrowski said he is confident the jurisdictions will get it right.

"They're doing this now," he said. "The normal places where people get shots — from chain pharmacies to doctors' offices — are doing this today. We can certainly do it for a COVID-19 vaccine."