RESERVIST MAGAZINE THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Ariz., in June 2019, when I had the honor of establishing an Assistant Commandant for Reserve (CG-R) and a dedicated staff to manage this vital Coast Guard Reserve national capability. This full trust and confidence in the professionals of our Reserve Component was well W Vice Adm. Daniel Abel Director, Joint Coordination Cell, HHS COVID-19 Response earned by what I had seen first-hand. As the First District Commander, I valued the incredible, tireless talent that flowed to our Northeast and confronted the operational and family impacts of Superstorm Sandy and then, later, the Boston Marathon Bombing. Later, as D17, I relied heavily on the Reserve for the annual summer surge to serve communities in the far north by our Operation Arctic Shield. Finally, as soon as we talked through the heraldry of the new CG-R seal in Arizona, I sat through a concept of operations brief as our reservists immediately set to national crisis response: a massive mobilization to flow forces to the lifesaving mission on the Southwest Border. Standing the watch and rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy, getting Boston back to normalcy after the tragic marathon bombing, deploying to our continent’s far extreme for underserved communities, dealing first-hand with a humanitarian crisis along our southern border…all expertly executed by those who leave occupations and families behind to answer our nation’s call. Each event reinforcing my respect for the competencies, capabilities and talents resident in our Reserve ranks. And just as my days in the Coast Guard were coming to a close, I was asked by the Commandant to remain on active duty and employ a small cadre of Coast Guard teammates to offer emergency management expertise at the request of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Where did I turn for a mission tested, mission ready crew for this task? The women and men of the Coast Guard Reserve. An article in this month’s edition will give you the full story of the journey this Coast Guard "…all expertly executed by those who leave occupations and families behind to answer our nation’s call. Each event reinforcing my respect for the competencies, capabilities and talents resident in our Reserve ranks." 8 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2021 team placed in HHS has been on since May 19, 2020. Spoiler alert: a small dedicated core of Coast Guard professionals implemented and managed a crisis management organization that boosted HHS’s ability to collaborate and communicate across its 88,000 staff enterprise to enhance the nation’s fight against COVID. Later, as FEMA was focusing on one of the worst hurricane seasons on record, this Coast Guard team, now a joint coordination cell (JCC), assumed interagency collaboration with more of a field focus to ensure the nation was best served. Core principles like bias for action, unity of command and partner engagement, which are central to the Coast Guard ethos, proved critical to harmonizing efforts that adapted and wove elements from military doctrine, ICS management, HHS practices and medical protocols in an environment pressurized by the tragic daily results of a spreading pandemic. This team worked from the tactical to the strategic. Tasked with an “ember strategy” to quell widespread disease transmission, the JCC deployed more than 300 medical staff, epidemiologists, and public health professionals to over 80 communities to “flatten the curve.” Concurrently, Coast Guard Reserve members also became accustomed to the White House as they hosted and acted on tasking directly from our nation’s senior-most decision makers regarding our national disease strategy. As always, nothing focuses a team like saving lives. That served as the unifier for all that mobilized for this team and all those with whom we partnered. I could not be prouder of the leadership this joint coordination cell provided to our nation. I commend the enclosed article for the “rest of the story.” I conclude with words from the CG-R stand-up ceremony still relevant today: “I am honored to stand amongst your ranks.” Semper Paratus. hen the nation needs a ready force, they go to the Coast Guard. When the Coast Guard needs a ready “break glass” force, they rely on the Coast Guard Reserve. I made this observation as the Deputy Commandant for Operations in Phoenix,
