FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness employees presented DHS team award

Three FEMA Center of Domestic Preparedness employees are recipients of an annual Department of Homeland Security team award.

Kent Latimer, John Mckenzie and Brandon Whitman were presented a 2019 DHS Secretary Unity of Effort Award Nov. 6 for their efforts earlier this year to provide critically needed healthcare training to medical personnel in Puerto Rico.

In May, Latimer, Mckenzie, Whitman traveled to and coordinated the delivery by contractor support personnel of four CDP courses – Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents, Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents, Health Sector Emergency Preparedness, and Barrier Precautions and Controls for Highly Infectious Disease – on the island.  In all, the contingent achieved more than 1,000 course completions in a two-week period, which greatly enhanced the health and medical preparedness of the entire U.S. territory.

CDP Superintendent Tony Russell said he was not surprised to see members of his team receive such an honor.

“The accomplishments of these three is indicative of the quality of all our employees,” he said. 

Latimer and Whitman received the award from acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan in a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C.  Mckenzie had a personal engagement and could not attend the event.