Defense Department Has Multiple Priorities in COVID-19 Battle

摘要

GovTravels' first keynote speaker, Robert G. Salesses, SES, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense & Global Security, addressed DOD's work during the pandemic. DOD is actively implementing President Joe Biden's new national strategy on COVID-19, he said. And DOD's priorities going forward are aimed at education, reinforcing mitigation efforts, expanding testing capability, getting the vaccine and continuing to support the nation. "You can imagine the Department of Defense with 2.2 million people in uniform and 700,000 civilians in the contract workforce," he said, adding that communication was-and is-vital when putting in place restrictions of movement, social distancing, mask wearing and other mitigation measures. The 15,000 COVID-19 tests that are administered every day are also critical in controlling the spread of the virus. "That kind of work, collectively, has been significant for the nation and for the Defense Department," he said, noting that nearly 990,000 doses of vaccine have been administered across DOD, so far. "We have to adapt and evolve as we see the situation," Salesses said. It became clear that the medical professionals were needed around the country, so DOD adapted by providing medical professionals to help out in public and private hospitals.