ORLANDO, Fla. - At a gathering of disaster response managers here Monday, the chief of the National Guard Bureau reminded the audience the American people have come to expect swift and effective responses to natural and manmade disasters.
Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley gave the keynote address at the outset of the second annual Defense Support of Civil Authorities Symposium, which is focused on all aspects of disaster mitigation efforts.
The nearly 700 attendees represented communities within the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and others.
"Supporting civil authorities, supporting our governors, represents half of our National Guard's dual mission," McKinley said. "And, it is no less a priority than our overseas defense missions in support of the president."
The chief said the past 12 months have been very positive with respect to developments in the area of support to civil authorities.
McKinley spoke highly of the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld.
"From day one, Sandy Winnefeld brought a truly collaborative style to the table," McKinley said. "He respects the Guard and the governors, recognizes our role domestically and wants to ensure our response capabilities are robust."
Another development is the advent of the newly minted Joint Action Plan, announced recently by assistant Secretary of Defense for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs, Dr. Paul Stockton. It was developed in coordination with the state adjutants general and the Council of Governors in an effort to increase the effective of disaster response on a national scale.
"One of the hallmarks of this new plan is the provision that allows for contingency dual status commanders to lead the response to unplanned events," McKinley said. "The fact that this commander can be a National Guard officer or an active duty officer is significant, and delivers to the American people a better organized and more cohesive response when and where it's needed, quickly and effectively."
But, the chief was quick to point out this is not time to rest on any laurels.
He said historically support to civil authorities has been focused on natural disasters, but that times are different now and that may well mean audience members will be called upon to respond to disasters of a man-made variety.
In that vein, McKinley talked about the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and how some believed, in hindsight, there was a failure of imagination that prevented senior leaders from seeing the threat and predicting airliners would be hijacked and used as weapons of mass terror in our own country.
"I challenge you all today," the chief said, "to never allow yourselves to be surprised by events you think aren't possible."