An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 17, 2020

Maryland National Guard helps assess Puerto Rico quake damage

By Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg Maryland National Guard

REISTERSTOWN, Md. – From more than 1,500 miles away, about 10 Maryland National Guard and Defense Force personnel are helping assess the damage in Puerto Rico caused by a series of earthquakes.

The joint Unclassified Processing, Analysis and Dissemination (UPAD) team is remotely assisting emergency managers in Puerto Rico with dam and base camp viability assessments, imagery analysis and identification of viable traffic control points.

The support effort comes after a string of earthquakes struck Puerto Rico, killing one person and damaging at least 800 homes.

“The MDNG UPAD is one of 15 across the National Guard and the first to employ a joint manning concept,” said Army Maj. Tracy J. Sullins, MDNG deputy director of intelligence.

A UPAD team works in an unclassified environment while remotely supporting domestic operations anywhere in the 54 states and territories.

By incorporating geographic information, satellite imagery, full-motion videos, still photos and other open-source data, a UPAD team produces graphic and narrative reports to help leaders in impacted areas make critical decisions.

UPAD is part of the incident awareness and assessment process to synchronize and integrate the planning and operations of information capabilities during a domestic emergency.

“By doing this we can help save lives, mitigate suffering, minimize property damage, and protect critical infrastructure,” Sullins said.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, analyzes data for evidence of adversary indicators of compromise on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 6, 2025. Tian is among the first Air National Guard members to be selected under a newly established direct commission program for cyber professionals.
Washington Airman Selected for Direct Commission in Cyber
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 30, 2025
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, is among the first Air National Guard members selected under a newly established direct commission...

U.S. Air Force Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Peck, officer of information technology with 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, operates a small unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Phoenix Dawn 2025 at Saylor Creek Range near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 6, 2025. The 194th Wing's inaugural class of Warrant Officers are paving the way by re-establishing the role in the Air Force and setting standards for future generations.
Washington Air Guard’s Warrant Officers Pave Way
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 29, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Washington – The 194th Wing’s warrant officers are not only breaking new ground — they’re laying the foundation for generations to come.For the first time in more than 65 years, the Air Force reintroduced warrant...

Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force work alongside their RTAF counterparts in small groups to finalize their respective training objectives at the Enduring Partners 2025 final planning conference in Spokane, Wash., May 20, 2025. The working groups focused on areas such as air operations, ground-controlled interception, Air Force Special Warfare, cyber, combat communication, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief medical logistics, intel, and space.
Royal Thai Air Force, Washington Guard Finalize Plans for Enduring Partners 2025
By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon, | May 29, 2025
SPOKANE, Wash. – Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force assembled in western Washington May 19-24 to finalize plans for Enduring Partners 2025, an exercise involving RTAF and the Washington...