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\nSeptember 5, 2013
\nPhil Navin recently sat down for a Conversation with CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. It was a chance for the two to get to know each other better, and dig more deeply into CDC\u2019s readiness. Photo by Kathy Chastney
\n\u201cI Feel Very Comfortable from an Organizational Perspective, That We\u2019ve Put All the Right Pieces in Place.\u201d The word from the director of CDC\u2019s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the agency is well-positioned and well-prepared for any challenge.
\nYou already know that CDC plays a pivotal role in public health preparedness for catastrophic events such as pandemics, natural disasters, and acts of bioterrorism. You know that CDC is uniquely positioned to respond to infectious, occupational, or environmental outbreaks.
\nBut have you met the man standing at the helm of CDC\u2019s Division of Emergency Operations?
\nPhil Navin recently sat down for a Conversation with CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH. It was a chance for the two to get to know each other better, and dig more deeply into CDC\u2019s readiness.
\nNavin oversees the Division of Emergency Operations (DEO), and is responsible for maintaining the 24/7/365 EOC. Think of it as a bustling hub, a nerve center which gathers and sends out critical information on events (both global and domestic) as they occur, and provide timely logistical support to CDC responders. Tasks range from managing emergency communication systems to conducting and planning exercises and trainings across CDC to ensure an ever-ready high level of preparedness.
\nNavin oversees the Division of Emergency Operations (DEO), and is responsible for maintaining the 24/7/365 EOC. Photo by Kathy Chastney
\nNavin frequently becomes the event chief of staff under the CDC incident management structure (IMS); however, the training programs that have been put in place over the years and the experience gained during responses have allowed many to lead as incident managers and chiefs of staff. \u201cThat\u2019s a great change for CDC,\u201d says Navin. He has served in his current position as division director at CDC since March 2003, so he is celebrating ten years of service. His service really began decades ago with the US Army as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Montana in 1973. Navin was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army\u2019s Medical Service Corps, served for 30 years, and retired in 2003 as a colonel. His roles as leader and manager across the entire spectrum of military medical and public health operations were instrumental in his ability to seamlessly transition to CDC. And that brings us back to the EOC and CDC\u2019s readiness.\u201cIt has been a challenge to get to this point,\u201d Navin told Frieden. \u201cIt\u2019s been a struggle here at CDC, but I feel comfortable from an organizational perspective that we\u2019ve put all the right pieces in place.\u201d Numerous organizations across CDC have developed a great understanding of incident command and want to use the CDC EOC more and more when a public health threat surfaces.
\nAt the start up in 2003, many people at CDC felt operations in the EOC were too rigid and structured, explains Navin. The initial struggle was implementing the use of IMS. As staff was trained and the system demonstrated its effectiveness, it became an accepted method of operation. \u201cAfter 9/11, we made great strides to move to the new system. We had great leadership; leaders who made sure we have the staff and resources that we need. It was also a challenge persuading the rest of CDC that this is the way we are going to have to operate to be able to do business. There are 11 federal agencies using IMS. Once you turn on IMS, there are action steps in place to ensure synchronization across CDC.\u201d
\nNavin said, \u201cAfter 9/11, we made great strides to move to the new system. We had great leadership; leaders who made sure we have the staff and resources that we need.\u201d Photo by Kathy Chastney
\nNavin and his staff are taking it one step further now, working to obtain accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. If CDC receives accreditation, it would become the first fully accredited federal agency to reach that distinction, a milestone that both he and Frieden look forward to achieving. Things have changed rapidly at the EOC and Navin has many memorable moments. \u201cHurricane Katrina was one of the biggest CDC and federal government responses ever. There was lots of learning and growing from that experience. It helped develop procedures and really made emergency response part of the public health mission. Today, deployment is a regular term you hear; ten years ago, it was never used.\u201d Events like the tsunami in Indonesia or the tsunami in Japan which turned into a radiation event have CDC staff across the agency working together, Navin says. \u201cCDC reacts and responds, bringing experts together instantaneously.\u201d
\nThe EOC has enhanced the already well-recognized and world-renowned reputation of CDC. Navin says, \u201cThe name of CDC has always been respected around the world. With the myriad of responses we have worked, the world has a better understanding of what CDC does and what CDC contributes during a public health emergency response.\u201d
\nHe cites Frieden\u2019s activation of the EOC for the polio eradication response as an example. \u201cPolio is a slowly migrating disease, and you would not have expected it to be an EOC event. But the activation was instrumental in moving eradication forward, increasing the focus, raising awareness about the disease, and acquiring resources to fight it. It was truly an eye-opening experience for me and our staff to realize the impact EOC activation can have by strengthening a public health response. It made us realize that we\u2019re not just about a 30- or 60- or 90-day response, but we are also a 2-year or 3-year or 4-year response organization. It\u2019s a way to get results.\u201d
\nIncident Manager (IM) RADM Steve Redd and Navin discuss the activities and current status of exercise at the end of the day. Photo by Mark Fletcher
\nRight now, the EOC is activated for polio eradication, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome \u2013 Corona Virus. The activation for Multistate Cyclosporiasis Outbreak ended just last week. No one knows when a new threat will arise, but rest assured that DEO is monitoring. If experience is the best teacher, then CDC\u2019s rich history has served to further strengthen and prepare public health experts for what lies ahead. At the end of the day, Frieden and Phil Navin know we cannot afford to lose our momentum in preparing for the unexpected.
\nFor more on Phil Navin and the EOC, watch these related videos:
\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/phpr/eoc.htm
\nHis military education included Airborne and Ranger School, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) officers\u2019 basic and advanced courses, and Command and General Staff College. He commanded at the company level in Germany, battalion level at Ft. Bragg, NC, served in many roles such as: the chief of staff for the 18th Medical Command in South Korea; deputy surgeon at HQ USPACOM; and \u201cworked in places I\u2019m not allowed to say.\u201d
\nNavin and his staff are taking it one step further now, working to obtain accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. If CDC receives accreditation, it would become the first fully accredited federal agency to reach that distinction, a milestone that he and Dr. Frieden look forward to achieving.
\nHis awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and other meritorious recognitions. He earned a master\u2019s degree in health care administration in 1984 from Webster University.
\nHis accomplishments with CDC focused on the development of CDC\u2019s Emergency Management Program, the convergence of emergency management practice and public health programs\u2019 expertise aimed at preventing, protecting against, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies. This included implementing and standardizing EOC protocols, structure and processes, which have enhanced overall preparedness for CDC to respond to small and large scale events.
\nHe has institutionalized plans and exercises in coordination with multiple programs as a performance evaluation system to validate expected actions; developed an after action reporting system; organized systems to logistically support deployments; and, developed the overall organizational structure to support a core response element on a daily basis.
\nIn 2010, the agency\u2019s emergency response communication function was added to DEO, and now provides a robust emergency management communication capability for preparedness and response.
\nThis Inside Story by Kathy Chastney
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