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Navy Public Health Experts Provide a Safe Environment for International Seapower Symposium

21 October 2021

From Hugh Cox

Staff from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) and Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Two (NEPMU-2) provided critical “behind the scenes” public health expertise in support of the 24th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) held last month at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.Two weeks prior to the
Staff from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) and Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Two (NEPMU-2) provided critical “behind the scenes” public health expertise in support of the 24th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) held last month at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Two weeks prior to the event, a comprehensive public health site survey was conducted by Lt. Jessica Jeter, Environmental Health Officer (EHO), and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jacqueline Holman, Preventive Medicine Technician (PMT), both assigned to NEPMU-2, to help ensure the safety of ISS attendees.

The duo arrived with experience and diagnostic testing equipment from NEPMU-2 to ensure that the symposium had a reasonable testing capacity if needed. According to Cmdr. Rebecca Welch, a preventive medicine physician attached to NMCPHC, the site survey and other public health mitigation efforts were part of a larger coordinated effort that included support from other Navy Medicine commands.

“It was awe-inspiring to witness medical and public health support personnel from numerous active duty and reserve units across the country uniting to provide world-class, event-specific COVID-19 risk mitigation in such a logistically complex environment,” said Welch. “As a team, we enabled delegates to the ISS to focus on their primary mission, which was to achieve strength in unity through group and one-on-one sessions during the week-long event.”

According to Welch, Jeter’s expertise as an EHO, and Holman’s aptitude as a PMT were invaluable to the success of the 24th annual International Seapower Symposium. “Truly, the event could not have taken place safely without their skill sets and tireless dedication and attention to detail,” added Welch.

For this particular event, the site survey included providing direct support throughout a 3-day site visit assessment of the U.S. Naval War College, Navy Gateway Inns and Suites and two off-site locations. The team provided critical COVID-19 mitigations for more than 250 international and American naval officers from 103 countries, including the Chief of Naval Operations, and many senior leaders of the US Navy (81), the US Coast Guard (16). Additional attendees included the Secretary of the Navy, the current and seven previous War College Presidents, as well as other senior U.S. officials.

“Job one for the team was ensuring that processes and procedures were in place to create a COVID-free environment so that the delegates could safely conduct diplomatic interactions without fear or threat of infection,” added Jeter.

NEPMU-2’s recommendations affected over 500 ISS attendees including U.S. and foreign military delegates, their spouses as well as executive staffs. Holman inspected over 50 spaces and followed up with recommendations for mitigation against COVID-19 transmission.
“It was quite a unique experience and I could not be more proud of the efforts by Petty Officer Holman. Our combined expertise and perspective was invaluable and resulted in the safe execution of an instrumental symposium to maintain global maritime diplomacy and freedom of navigation,” said Jeter. “She played a vital role in carrying out the strategy and providing Naval War College and OPNAV N3/N5 with actionable courses of action to reduce risk during the event.”

“I learned a lot. While there were numerous factors that contributed to the risk level of this event, I was able to lean back on my training as a Preventive Medicine Technician and provide critical risk mitigation recommendations in order to protect the health of senior leaders and their staff,” said Holman.

The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) develops and shapes public health for the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps through health surveillance, epidemiology and analysis, disease and injury prevention, and public health consultation. Learn more by going to www.nmcphc.med.navy.mil. Follow NMCPHC on social media at https://www.facebook.com/NavyAndMarineCorpsPublicHealthCenter http://twitter.com/nmcphc and https://www.instagram.com/nmcphc/

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