Photo By Capt. Nathan Rivard | U.S. Army Maj. Jeremy Malo, logistics deputy director, Joint Force Headquarters,...... read more read more
U.S. Army Maj. Jeremy Malo, who currently serves as the deputy J4 director with the North Dakota National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters, was part of a five-person team supporting the Lignite Coast Tabletop Exercise held May 12–16, 2025. The exercise brought together more than 45 Beninese emergency management professionals and American counterparts to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
While the exercise focused on incident command, wildland fire, and flood response, for Malo, it also underscored the deeper purpose behind his service.
“One of the things that really fulfills me is helping others,” said Malo. “Coming down here and seeing the value that we can at least provide to these people who love their country… it’s awesome to be able to share and collaborate.”
Malo started his career in Rugby, North Dakota, when he joined the military in 1998 as a water purification specialist. He rose through the ranks as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear NCO before commissioning as an ordnance officer in 2009.
Now in his 26th year of service, his career has taken him from the deserts of Egypt during Operation Bright Star, another training exercise in the Dominican Republic, and a deployment to Afghanistan. Yet, for Malo, it all started with a simple six-year commitment inspired by his uncle.
“My initial plan was to stay for six. ‘Alright, I’ll sign up for six.’ My uncle got me in back in the day… then it just kept on extending. It became part of my identity,” he said.
His time in Benin represents a full-circle moment. A few years ago, Malo helped scout initial locations and logistics for a future engagement. Now, those early efforts are bearing fruit as Benin tests its National Contingency Plan for the first time.
“It’s good. We’re talking the same language, it’s just delayed through an interpreter,” Malo said with a smile. “Even when running our first injects, it’s initially a lot of confusion and gathering information to make a decision. So not a whole lot different, just people being people trying to figure out the best way to tackle a problem.”
Throughout the tabletop exercise, Malo brought more than technical expertise, he brought perspective. With a career split between enlisted and officer roles, he credits his early experiences with helping him become a more grounded and effective leader.
“Gotta know what the people that are taking the orders are going through. Another way to do that is to be there,” he said. “That’s why I value my NCO experience so much, it helps you relate to what they are going through… it makes me a better leader and decision maker.”
During the five-day event, he worked alongside Beninese counterparts to troubleshoot logistical and communication challenges, which are two key areas that emerged during the simulations. As the teams moved through increasingly complex scenarios, Malo saw clear parallels to past emergencies back home.
“The exercise scenarios focused on wildland fires and flooding, both of which North Dakota is familiar with,” he said. “It was beneficial to see how other people are managing similar emergencies and their procedures. Sharing our processes back and forth is making all of us better.”
That spirit of shared growth and readiness is what drives Malo forward. Whether in a state partnership country or back in North Dakota, his mission remains the same: prepare, support, and serve.
“If I’m blessed enough to have another opportunity to come down and spend time here in Benin or Togo or Ghana, if that’s where I’m needed at the time, that’s where I’m going to be.”
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2025 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 499000 |
| Location: | GRAND POPO, BJ |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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