Fort Buchanan’s command team met with incoming and outgoing FEMA Region 2 defense coordination officers on August 11 to discuss the installation’s role in federal emergency response, according to a news article from the U.S. Army on Tuesday.
Col. John D. Samples, the installation’s commanding officer, welcomed Col. Michael Englis, the new defense coordination officer for FEMA Region 2, and Col. Michael Ball, who is departing the role. They were joined by Col. Georgina Hammond, Army Reserve senior emergency preparedness officer; Maj. Héctor Padilla, a Defense Support of Civil Authorities planner with FEMA Region 2; and other staff members.
Discussions focused on Fort Buchanan’s key role as a readiness platform for the Department of Defense in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The installation supports military units that may be called upon to perform Immediate Response Authority and Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions during local emergencies.
Fort Buchanan serves a military community of roughly 15,000 personnel, including active-duty service members, reservists, Puerto Rico National Guard soldiers, and Marine Corps and Navy Reserve units. With an annual budget exceeding $500 million, the installation’s mission is to maintain readiness and enable rapid deployment of forces whenever and wherever they are needed.
