Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Marcus Falleaf | Lt Col Matthew Allinson, director of the emergency operations center for Ellington...... read more read more
By Senior Master Sgt. Marcus Falleaf
Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
ELLINGTON FIELD, Texas - When the world around you is under duress and panic appears to be just on the horizon, there must be that one person controlled and knowledgeable enough to reach out and take hold of the situation. In the instance of Hurricane Ike, that person is the Emergency Operation Center director, Lt. Col. Matthew Allinson.
"I didn't have any apprehension after Col. McNeely gave me the assignment," said Allinson, who also happens to be the commander of the Civil Engineering Squadron for the 147th Reconnaissance Wing.
"In fact, I was pretty excited," Allinson said.
"McNeely told me, 'Matt, it's yours to set-up and run,'" said Lt. Col. Allinson. "When he appointed me, he gave me four priorities."
Those priorities are:
1. To support the Standing Joint Interagency Task Force (SJIATF)
2. To ensure the Air Sovereignty Alert is established and maintained.
3. To ensure the new Predator operation power is restored and running.
4. To mitigate further damage and restore base infrastructure.
"The ramp was up and running just two days after the storm," Allinson said.
Additionally, the EOC was supporting other non-military organizations like FEMA that were involved with the hurricane operation. We are supplying personnel for traffic control at Congressman Nick Lampson's field office that is set-up at the American Legion post across the street from Ellington, continued Allinson.
The newest additions to the operation include a full laundry and field showers to take care of the troops.
"You see, ½ of the EOC is base infrastructure, communications, utilities and such. While the other ½ is resources like personnel, base operations and receiving support on the airfield," Lt. Col Allinson replied.
Never before has Ellington Field played host to so many entities at the same time. The mission, a long way from ending, continues to evolve with each passing day. As the tension resides, it would be easy to become complacent in the duties of EOC director. But anyone who knows Lt. Col. Matthew Allinson also knows the kind of leader he is and doesn't worry. From the mission to Canada to California and now back to Texas, this EOC director has proven his mettle.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2008 21:50 |
| Story ID: | 23886 |
| Location: | ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 565 |
| Downloads: | 500 |
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