6/29/2012 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate activated two Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers (EPLOs) June 27 to assist in wildfire suppression efforts in Colorado and elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions.
At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region VIII, one EPLO was assigned to Colorado State Emergency Operations Center in Centennial, Colo. A second EPLO was assigned to the Incident Command Post located in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The EPLOs' skills, experience and knowledge of U.S. Air Force capabilities will assist in determining the right resources if Department of Defense assets are requested by civilian authorities to support the response within the stricken areas.
Air Force EPLOs are senior Air Force Reserve officers who are subject matter experts in state and regional disaster response plans, advising states and regions on Air Force capabilities that may be used during disaster responses.
EPLOs are geographically assigned to each state and the 10 FEMA Regional Response Coordination Centers. The officers come from a wide range of career fields including air operations, logistics, medical, security forces and public affairs.
