Readout From the White House Coronavirus Task Force's Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Progress on Vaccine Development, Manufacturing and Distribution

 Sept. 9, 2020

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Today, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar led a discussion with the chief executives of approximately 50 states, territories, and the city of Washington, DC, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to discuss local, state, and federal COVID-19 response and recovery, and provide an update on Operation Warp Speed efforts to develop, manufacture, and distribute a safe and effective vaccine. 

Ambassador Birx provided an update on data and trends from across the nation, and discussed her recent visits to states in the upper midwest including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and her upcoming travels through the southeast. Administrator Verma delivered an update on efforts to protect the vulnerable in nursing homes.

Secretary Azar led discussion on federal efforts in coordination with state and local governments to develop, manufacture, and distribute a safe and effective vaccine. Dr. Slaoui reported on the status of the vaccine candidates, outlining the integrity of the robust development and approval process. Dr. Marks discussed the FDA’s role in the vaccine approval process and outlined the safeguards that ensure confidence in safety and efficacy. 

General Perna discussed how Operation Warp Speed is planning for the manufacturing and distribution of a vaccine, including the creation of multiple contingencies based on various potential scenarios and characteristics of the eventual vaccine(s). General Perna highlighted efforts to prepare the entire vaccine supply chain for the distribution of a vaccine including the production of additional supplies such as syringes.

Director Redfield discussed how the federal government will coordinate with state and local governments through the public health infrastructure to distribute a vaccine and discussed several actions governors can be taking now to prepare. Director Redfield also highlighted the five pilot states and communities with which CDC has already worked on microplans (California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota, and the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and preparation best practices.

Participants from the White House Coronavirus Task Force:

• Secretary Alex Azar, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
• Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator 
• Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D., U.S. Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), HHS
• Director Robert Redfield, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), HHS
• Administrator Seema Verma, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS
• Director Anthony Fauci, M.D., National Institute for Allergies & Infections Disease (NIAID), HHS
• General Gustave Perna, Chief Operation Officer, OWS, U.S. Army Materiel Command, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
• Moncef Slaoui, PhD., Chief Advisor, Operation Warp Speed (OWS), HHS
• Director Peter Marks, M.D., PhD., Centers for Biologics Evaluation & Research, FDA, HHS
• Rear Admiral John Polowczyk, Joint Chiefs of Staff, DOD

Since January 2020, the administration has organized and hosted 36 governors-only briefings to drive effective communication and collaboration at every level of government.

Readout of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. James Anderson's Bilateral Engagement With Nigerian Permanent Secretary of Defense Mr. Sabi'u Zakari

 Sept. 9, 2020

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Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. James Anderson spoke with the Nigerian Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Mr. Sabi’u Zakari today by telephone.  The two leaders discussed the long-standing U.S.-Nigerian partnership and ways to advance our shared interests, including in the counterterrorism and maritime security areas.  
 
Dr. Anderson also underscored the United States’ enduring commitment to the partnership based on our common values, such as democracy, human rights, and transparency.  

Robust Plan Helps Deployed Guardsmen Avoid COVID-19

 Sept. 9, 2020 | BY JULIE SHEA, AIR FORCE , 158th Fighter Wing

When they returned from last month's deployment to the Northern Lightning training exercise in Volk Field, Wisconsin, members of the Vermont Air National Guard all tested negative for COVID-19.

To accomplish this, the 158th Fighter Wing leadership followed strict Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Vermont Department of Health risk mitigation measures, including: screening, restricting movement, social distancing, mask wearing and asymptomatic testing.

"Overall, the testing was a resounding success. It was an effort between the state of Vermont, Vermont Department of Health, the SNS warehouse, our Joint Force Headquarters team, as well as the Wing and the medical folks at Volk Field," Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Romp, officer in charge of public health for the Vermont Air National Guard, said.

The decision to test all members came after concern that the guardsmen were to travel to Wisconsin, where COVID-19 cases were more prevalent than Vermont, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, which records all COVID-19 cases reported to the CDC since Jan. 21, 2020.

About 100 airmen assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard were tested at varying times throughout the two-week exercise at Volk Field, to ensure any potential outbreaks could be tracked. All the guardsmen tested both on-site in Wisconsin and in Vermont have tested negative for COVID-19.

"We had a robust plan in place before they even arrived in Wisconsin," Romp said. "We screened everybody on the way out, with questions and temperature checks before they got on the plane. All of the units coming into the exercise had those requirements. When they arrived at Volk Field, all of the pilots, basically all of the operators, were tested. They had a pretty robust quarantine and isolation plan, if somebody needed to be treated. Luckily, we didn't have to execute that plan at all."

While the guardsmen were there, access off base was limited for essential travel only and on-base lodging was separated by sections, limiting contact with both the public and other Northern Lightning participants. Both social distancing and mask wearing were enforced, and there were daily screenings and temperature checks for all participants. After returning to Vermont on Aug. 21, airmen were immediately tested for COVID-19, twelve of whom had also taken a test before leaving Volk Field.

"We were in constant contact with [Volk Field] before the exercise until well after, to make sure that folks safely arrived there, are safe while they are at the exercise, and then ensuring that they were safe — and their families were safe — when they returned," Romp said.

"Airmen, soldiers, civilians — it was definitely an intra- and inter-organizational success. And that has been the wing commander's policy from the beginning is to do the best we can: best mitigation, best preventative, following the CDC and state guidelines while still getting the mission done," Romp continued.

Until there is an effective COVID-19 vaccine available, similar precautions and screening will continue for upcoming Vermont Air National Guard training movements and deployments, according to Romp.

Washington National Guard Helps at Community Food Bank

Sept. 9, 2020 | BY Air Force Capt. Hans Zeiger

Members of the Washington Air National Guard's 194th Wing are working alongside Army National Guardsmen at the food bank in Bonney Lake, Washington, to serve their neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bonney Lake Food bank is one of many food bank locations around the state where the guard continues to serve. Altogether, the guard has taken part in processing, packaging and distributing more than 45 million pounds of food.

"The guard has played such an integral role," said Stacey Crnich, director of the Bonney Lake Food Bank, who began her job not long after Gov. Jay R. Inslee declared an emergency in Washington. Early on during the pandemic, Crnich said she instituted a delivery model to keep up with the growing need and maintain health standards. At first, the food bank was overwhelmed, she said.

"The guard showed up a week and a half into our delivery model and changed everything," Crnich said. "We've been able to leverage resources and leverage people. Route delivery times decreased dramatically."

Crnich has seen the number of families she serves grow from 170 to more than 600 every two weeks, she said. The guardsmen have allowed Crnich and her team to keep up with the growing demand, she said.

Many of the guardsmen serving in Bonney Lake live in the area, said Army 2nd Lt. Mike Sebastionelli, the officer in charge of the food bank mission in Bonney Lake. "People join the guard to help their community. [They] are making an impact on this area," said Sebastionelli.

"We are helping people who are hit by the impacts to the economy," said Air Force Master Sgt. James Moats, a member of the Washington Air National Guard's 116th Weather Flight. Moats started working at the Bonney Lake Food Bank in August after two weeks serving at a food bank warehouse in Kent, Washington.

People in the community are taking notice of the guard's impact, Sebastionelli said. One veteran has written notes expressing thanks to the soldiers and airmen who have delivered food to him, and someone hung a banner on the food bank building thanking the guard, Sebastionelli continued.

"It's cool to see people come in and say thank you for everything that we do," said Christine Krysiak, a member of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Wing student flight who recently graduated from Franklin Pierce High School in Parkland, Washington.

Even though Krysiak has not completed initial training to become an airman, she is able to serve on state active duty status.

"I feel happy, and I'm [doing] my part and helping others, because COVID is really affecting everyone," Krysiak said.

Crnich credits the guard with enabling the Bonney Lake Food Bank to perfect its delivery model.

"We have systems in place where we can bring this to [families]," Crnich said. "That's the guard. I feel like we're business partners now."

(Capt. Hans Zeiger is assigned to the 194th Wing).

Defense Acquisition System Directive Goes Into Effect

 Sept. 9, 2020

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On Sep. 8, 2020, Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist signed into effect DoD Directive 5000.01, The Defense Acquisition System. In support of the National Defense Strategy, the Defense Acquisition System develops a more lethal force based on U.S. technological innovation and a culture of performance that yields a decisive and sustained U.S. military advantage.

DoDD 5000.01 is the overarching directive that describes the principles governing the acquisition process and emphasizes six main tenets of acquisition implemented via the Adaptive Acquisition Framework. Representing one of the most transformational changes to acquisition policy in decades, the DoDD 5000.01 re-write was part of a comprehensive redesign of the DoD 5000 Series acquisition policies, which were streamlined and modernized to empower program managers, facilitate flexibility and enhance our ability to deliver capability at the speed of relevance.

DoDD 5000.01 can be found at https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodd/. To learn more about the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, visit https://aaf.dau.edu/.

Weight Work

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Elizabeth R. Pinon exercises aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Halsey in the South China Sea, Sept. 4, 2020.

Disinfecting Supplies

 

Air Force airmen disinfect supplies on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan during a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 5, 2020.

Greenland Travels

 

The Coast Guard cutter Campbell travels with the Royal Danish Navy patrol vessel HDMS Knud Rasmussen off the coast of Greenland, Sept. 7, 2020.

Test Training

 

Virginia National Guard soldiers and airmen train on COVID-19 testing with Virginia Department of Health medical professionals in Sandston, Va., Sept. 4, 2020. Approximately 85 service members were trained and are ready to resume support for Virginia’s COVID-19 response.

Peephole Perspective

 

Navy Seaman Devin Fredrick installs an arming device on a Mark-63 1,000-pound inert mine aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 3, 2020.

Drone Launch

 

Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team members launch a drone to assess waterways near Lake Charles, La., Sept. 1, 2020, in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura. The team, one of three that make up the National Strike Force, is composed of highly trained Coast Guard professionals who rapidly deploy with specialized equipment to a variety of incidents, responses and other emergencies.