In late March and early April, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted two visitors from Iraq as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project focusing on civilian and military cooperation during emergencies.
The group’s first meeting was with Jonathan Diamond of the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, or BRACE. Jonathan spoke to the visitors about the role of BRACE in preparing the local community for disasters and coordinating with other agencies to provide relief for victims of disasters.
They then went to Pensacola City Hall where Mayor Ashton Hayward and City Administrator Eric Olson welcomed them, spoke about the city’s relationship with local military installations, and presented them with certificates of honorary citizenship to the city.
The next day, Dr. John Lanza, director of the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Escambia County, hosted the visitors for a discussion at the facility. The visitors heard from several representatives of the FDOH and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding emergency plans and their implementations during public health emergencies. Thank you to David Chmiel, Julie Burger, Eric Gilmore, Debbie Thayer, and Leigh Willoughby for joining Dr. Lanza in this discussion.
Next, the group visited West Florida Hospital for a meeting with Emergency Preparedness Safety Officer Margie Hobbs.
Over the weekend, the visitors enjoyed dinner and warm hospitality in the home of Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council members Brian and Vicki Barlow.
On Monday, the group’s last full day in Pensacola, the day began at the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Here, members of the Military Affairs Committee met with visitors to discussion community-military base relations. Included at the table were Debi Graham, Representative Clay Ingram, Todd Thomson, and Sergeant Jimmy Donohoe.
Afterwards, the visitors headed to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) where they were welcomed by Sheriff David Morgan before meeting with Sergeant Andrew Hobbs, Colonel Mark Jackson, and Master Deputy Brian Munhollon for a discussion on the relationship between the ECSO and local military installations. This meeting was arranged by Protocol Officer Allison Morgan.
Next, County Commissioner Doug Underhill joined the two Iraqi visitors for a discussion on civilian oversight of the military and the working relationship between military installations and local government.
The group’s time in Pensacola ended with a meeting and tour of the Escambia County Division of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center given by Division Manager John Dosh.
Thank you to everyone who made this project a success.
