TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers
nationwide stand ready to respond to national emergencies and events when
requested.
U.S. Air Force Reserve EPLOs are stationed in every state to coordinate military assets
to support civil authorities in the event of a natural or man-made disaster or a national
special security event.
Working with officers from the Navy, Marines and Army, these EPLOs respond to
civilian requests for assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Requests for EPLO support are coordinated through the Office of the Secretary of
Defense. Upon approval, selected EPLOs work with the requesting agency to bring Air
Force assets to bear.
Col. Michael Hare, the AFNORTH National Security Emergency Preparedness director,
said EPLOs work to help civilian agencies understand and select the military capabilities
available to them in a DSCA environment.
“They understand what the military can provide and what civilian authorities need, so
we can provide the right support at the right time,” said Colonel Hare.