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Contingency Response: AFDW's primary mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Davis
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland --  Senior Air Force District of Washington decision makers with diverse skill-sets entered a secure room early each morning during last month's U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit, ready to respond to any crisis. The Airmen monitored event coordination efforts, communications and news media coverage, waiting to take action at a moment's notice.

These Airmen, manning the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing Operations Center, were a demonstration of AFDW's primary mission: contingency response.

"Contingency response is AFDW's main mission and is the primary reason for its existence," said Micah Killion, AFDW deputy director of operations, plans and readiness.

"We have a diverse and demanding mission set due to the unique area of responsibility in which we operate," Killion said. "Our mission of contingency response requires routine interaction within the department of Defense and with other government agencies as part of the daily complexity to plan, coordinate and execute support for National Special Security Events."

National Special Security Events are those occasions, designated by the Department of Homeland Security, whose size and scope make them potential targets for terrorism or criminal activity.

Last month's U.S.-African Leaders' Summit was designated an NSSE, and as such, Air Combat Command (through Air Forces Northern) activated the 320th AEW which serves as the Air Force component for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

In this instance, the 320th AEW Operations Center staff provided support to Joint Base Andrews Airmen during the arrivals of 27 aircraft carrying 28 heads of state en route to the summit in Washington, D.C.

Due to the potential threats to participating personnel, the operations center staff served as a conduit between Joint Base Andrews and JTF-NCR.  320th AEW Airmen were postured to provide air, medical, communications, security forces and other assets as tasked to assist with potential contingency response in the National Capital Region.

Other potential NSSEs supported by AFDW Airmen include State of the Union Addresses, state funerals, Presidential Inaugurations and foreign leader summits.  But it's not just known, predictable events that the command must be postured to support.

"We have to be ready to respond to a wide variety of contingencies at any time," said Col. Edward Lengel, director of operations, plans, and readiness for AFDW.  "Our core mission is to provide Air Force capabilities designed to detect, respond to, mitigate and recover from contingencies - ranging from natural disasters to threats to the homeland."

During a national emergency, the command's 5,700 Airmen would be called on to provide multiple levels of assets and support to leadership across all branches of government, said Lengel.

One such capability that the Air Force could be called on to provide is explosive ordnance disposal, said Senior Master Sgt. Alex Morgan, AFDW EOD functional manager.

"EOD can be involved in any incident dealing with explosives; whether that's a deployed environment or in-garrison," Morgan said. "Our contingency response mission at AFDW is specialized. In the NCR we support distinguished visitors and high priority government officials, both foreign and domestic. Here much of our mission focuses on VIP support missions versus a conventional EOD mission."

The command's unique mission makes it stand apart from other Air Force units, said Morgan.

"I think if you look at the scope of what AFDW does and how widespread our mission is, we play a very important role," Morgan said. "AFDW brings the ceremonial, operational and contingency support piece from the USAF to the NCR and worldwide mission."

Contingency response is just one of Air Force District of Washington's core mission sets, which also includes ceremonial honors and operational support.  The command reactivated in 2005 to address three broad objectives: to align the Air Force command structure in the NCR with its sister services; to improve Air Force support to the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region; and to designate a single voice for Air Force cross-service issues in the NCR.

These Airmen execute the mission with precision and pride, said Maj. Gen. Darryl Burke, commander of AFDW, who also serves as commander of the 320th AEW when activated.

"There is a special trust, privilege, and responsibility associated with performing our contingency response mission," said Burke.  "We hope that our response capabilities are never needed.  However, if our nation calls, and our people are in need, I'm confident that our Airmen are ready to face any challenge."

(Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of stories about the three primary mission sets of AFDW.)