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NCS IMAs Support 2002 Winter Olympics

National Communications System Individual Mobilization Augmentees staffed Federal Emergency Management Agency’s emergency communications center at Camp Williams, Utah, in support of the Olympic Winter Games last February. The NCS military contingent consisted of Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Bonos (Region III – Mid-Atlantic), Colonel Elizabeth Lippmann (Capital Region), Colonel Anne Walsh (Capital Region), Lieutenant Colonel Craig Knapp (Region IX-Pacific Rim) and Lieutenant Colonel Steve Mainger (Region X – Northwest/Arctic). All five are Army Reserve officers. (Photo courtesy of NCS IMA Office.)

Arlington, VA, April 18, 2002 - To fulfill personnel requirements, the NCS selected Lieutenant Colonels Eugene Bonos and Craig Knapp to deploy on January 31, 2002 for 16 days to conduct the set-up phase and initiate telecommunications operations in the FEMA Olympic Watch Operations Center. Colonels Anne Walsh and Elizabeth Lippmann were selected for the deployment’s second phase to continue operations and manage mission completion.

Edwin “Dave“ Vest of the GSA Rocky Mountain Region was the Regional Manager responsible for continuity of operations throughout the mission and the designee prepared to assume the responsibilities as the Federal Emergency Communications Coordinator in the event of an actual disaster. A new member of the NCS IMA team, LTC Steve Mainger, was added to the deployment to provide continuity between the two phases.

The events of September 11 and the congestion on the public switched network presented the NCS with a challenge to overcome for future disasters. The NCS, in concert with industry and assisted by contractors, developed a solution to avoid the network congestion that ensued following the attacks of September 11th. The 2002 Winter Olympics served as a test bed for the concept.

The solution included use of GETS access cards with dual mode cellular/satellite handsets. These phones were distributed by NCS contract personnel to hundreds of law enforcement and emergency responders throughout the State of Utah, to personnel directly affiliated with Olympics operations, and to each IMA. A satellite phone base station was also installed on the FEMA Emergency Support Function (ESF)-2 desk at the Olympic Watch Operations Center.

During the deployment to Salt Lake City, the hours of pre-planning were evident. Vehicles and lodging more than met expectations and the absence of an actual emergency made the duty day less stressful than an actual deployment. FEMA made use of available time with classes provided by the various FEMA sections and orientation briefings provided by each ESF including the ESF-2/NCS briefing by Colonel Walsh. There were also several training exercises involving the entire operations center including an earthquake and a weapons-of-mass-destruction exercise.

Overall, the NCS deployment was a complete success. IMAs were given the opportunity to receive valuable training and also afforded the opportunity to attend various Olympic competitions. They represented both the NCS and the Army in a very positive light.

Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Craig Knapp, a National Communications System Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) from Region IX (Pacific Rim Region) processes information while staffing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Support Function-2 activities during the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City last February. Lt. Col. Knapp was one of five NCS IMAs supporting the Games. (Photo courtesy of NCS IMA Office.)

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Reviewed December 07, 2006