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AFRL's C-STARS Omaha prepares to train USPHS personnel for Ebola response deployment
By Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio– As the Ebola outbreak continues to challenge public health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, medical experts from theAir Force Research Laboratory’s711th Human Performance Wing(711 HPW) are posturing to provide critical pre-deployment training for U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) personnel deploying in support of Operation United Assistance 2.
“We now operate in a world where we know the biothreat is real,”Maj. Brendan Cleary, medical director of the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills Omaha,said. “It’s not a question of if these missions will arise,but when."
Assigned to theU.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine’sCenter for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills, orC-STARSOmaha, the team is preparing to deliver "Just in Time" training for USPHS officers. This training ensures they are ready to safely respond to the ongoing outbreak, which has resulted in1,333cases andover 400 deaths as of July 1, 2026.
Maj. Owen Caron, deputy director of C-STARS Omahasaidthe unit’s swift responsehas been crucial in meeting the urgent need for training.In June 2026, the team executed an emergency international training mission at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
“Within 72 hours of being tasked, we developed a field-based training program and mobilized our team to provide on-site training,” Caron said. “The USPHS personnel in the first tranche of training told us it was some of the best training they’ve received in their careers."
The upcoming training event,scheduled forlate Julyat Joint Base Andrews,represents the core mission for the specialized unit.
*"*We specialize inbiocontainment care training,” Caronsaid. “People associate wartime medical care with trauma, like penetrating injuries and blasts. Biowarfare is a growing and evolving threat. Our unique training and expertiseensure the Department of War can address these threats.”
Established in 2018 following the lessons learned from the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, C-STARS Omaha is a unique Air Force medical training site. While other C-STARS programs focus on traumaand critical care, the Omaha team specializes in infectious disease preparedness and biocontainment, partnering with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine.
“We could not do our mission here without the incredible partnership with UNMC and Nebraska Medicine,” Caronsaid. “With access to some of the world’s most renowned experts inbiocontainment care with decades of fieldand hospitalexperienceour trainees receivethe best possible preparation for dealing with these threats."
The training expertise at C-STARS Omaha has earned high praise from leadership, including Rear Adm.Richard Schobitz, director of Commissioned Corps Headquarters, USPHS.
“The C-STARS team has been an invaluable partner in preparing our officers for the 2026 Ebola response mission in Kenya,”Schobitzsaid.“Their operational expertise and commitment to continuously refining training based on real-world conditions ensure our U.S. Public Health Service officers are ready to care for American citizens and respond effectively in one of the world's most challenging public health environments.”
Cleary emphasized the importance of skill-building to manage deadly pathogens like Ebola.
“When dealing with viruses of this nature, even basic principles such as properly donning personal protective equipment or early patient care can save lives,” Clearysaid. “That’s why we prioritize repetition and hands-on practice under expert guidance. It’s essential to ingrain these skills so responders can act effectively and confidently in crisis situations.”
To ensure the highest levels of training effectiveness and safety, C-STARS Omaha is sourcing additional instructors with extensive biocontainment expertise and working to refine training frameworks based on feedback to meet operational needs.
“We are constantly learning and improving,” Cleary said. “With feedback from personnel downrange, we’ve modified and enhanced our training to be objective-based and seamless to prepare medical responders for real-world situations.
To meet evolving challenges, the 711 HPW is focused on scaling its specialized training pipelines and supporting vital medical operations. By leveraging its six nationwide C-STARS training programs, the Wing delivers integrated, human-centered solutions designed to keep Airmen and Guardians healthy, protected and performing at their peak across all mission sets.
"This critical pre-deployment training illustrates the exact intersection of biotechnology, training innovation and joint force readiness that the 711 Human Performance Wing is built to deliver,” Col. Dale Harrell, 711 HPW commander, said. “By rapidly aligning our specialized medical training with the needs of our interagency partners, we continue to bolster the nation's collective capability to mitigate global biological threats.”
As the Department of Air Force’s only specialized team for biocontainment care training, C-STARS Omaha plays an essential role in global health security and the readiness of military medical personnel.
“Our mission is directly tied to sustaining and enhancing the readiness of warfighters,” Caronsaid. “While C-STARS Omaha may not be on the front lines of war, we ensure those who are inharm’s way remain capable and supported, particularly during times of biothreats and outbreaks.”
The ongoing work at C-STARS Omaha also drives innovation within Air Force medicine. By combining military expertise with the unparalleled resources at its civilian partner institutions, the unit develops cutting-edge techniques that enable enhanced medical responses to global health crises.
“We are developing cutting-edge aerospace medical capabilities that enable us to support operators on the front lines while maintaining air and space power dominance,” Caronsaid.
As C-STARS Omaha prepares for the upcoming training cycle, their work highlights a critical capability for the Department of the Air Force and its interagency partners. By embedding with civilian experts and maintaining a constant state of readiness, the teamrespondswhen a biological threat emerges,andU.S. responders are prepared to meet it.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visithttp://www.afresearchlab.com/.
AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing is a unique combination of two mission units. While the Human Effectiveness Directorate is science- and technology-focused, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine is a center for aerospace medical learning, consultation, medical investigations and aircrew health assessments. This synergy of research and development with aerospace medical expertise helps ensure Airmen and Guardians are available, ready and performing at their peak.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2026 16:36 |
| Story ID: | 570396 |
| Location: | OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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