Navy Entomology Center of Excellence and the DWFP Program

Officer in Charge George. B. Schoeler, PhD Commander, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy

Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE)

• NECE is unique as the only U.S. Department of Defense activity devoted solely to operational public health entomology.

– Provide worldwide operational support and services.

– Develop novel application technologies to better protect deployed war fighters from insects that transmit diseases. • NECE is an Echelon-5 command under command/control of the Navy & Marine Corps Public Health Center, Portsmouth, VA.

Navy & Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC)

• NMCPHC provides leadership and expertise to ensure mission readiness through disease prevention and health promotion in support of the National Military Strategy (serves as the CDC for the Navy and Marine Corps) • Protection through Prevention • Provides expertise and technical support in military public health, including: • Health Risk Assessment • Deployment Health Support • Population Wellness Support • Health Information Management • Health Surveillance Support

MISSION

Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE) is the Navy and Marine Corps center of expertise for operational entomology. We develop and evaluate novel products and application technologies to better protect deployed forces from insects that carry diseases. We provide force health protection through operational disease vector surveillance and control to enhance Navy and Marine Corps mission readiness.

NECE Personnel

• Officer: 8 total (10 billets): All Medical Service Corps PhD or MS Entomologists.

• Enlisted: 11 total: 9 Preventive Medicine Technicians, 1 general duty Corpsman, 1 Engineman • Civil Service: 9 total: 5 Admin support, 4 technical • Contractor: 1 PhD Engineer (Spray delivery systems) • Pending addition of 5 additional technical personnel to the Testing and Evaluation Division; funding provided by Wounded Warrior/ill & injured Program.

Navy Entomology Center of Excellence Organizational Chart

OIC

CSC CS Secretary AOIC Administrative Dept Training Dept.

Operations Dept.

Fleet Support Division Testing & Evaluation Division

NECE Organization

• Testing and Evaluation Division – Conducts testing and evaluation studies of public health insecticide delivery systems, including the development, evaluation and field testing of new application tools, technologies, and methods as well as new chemical products for the control of disease carrying arthropods and pests of military importance. – Acts as agency representatives to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) and participates in the testing and evaluation of pest management equipment prior to its approval and procurement by DoD.

NECE Organization

• Testing and Evaluation Division Capabilities: – Testing and Evaluation Spray Technology Laboratory – Low-speed wind tunnel for aerosol studies, bioassays – Laser Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer – DC III (AIMS) droplet analyzer – Slide droplet collection analysis – Flourometer deposition analysis – Accessible field sites, including Camp Blanding Joint Training Center (FLARNG).

NECE and the DWFP

• Larger NECE DWFP projects are conducted through the T&E Division with various collaborators.

• Smaller “in-house” DWFP projects are conducted by NECE entomologists/PMTs, through NECE DWFP committee chaired by CMAVE liaison officer.

• NECE Currently involved in 14 active DWFP projects.

• Collaborating with several Government or academic institutions.

NECE and the DWFP

• Collaborating Institutions – USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology Center, FL – Gainesville, FL – USDA-ARS-APMRU Aerial Application Technology Unit – College Station, TX – U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Army Medical Research Unit - Kenya – University of Florida – University of Connecticut – Rutgers University – Lee County Mosquito Control District – FL – Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, CA – Florida Army National Guard Camp Blanding Joint Training

NECE and the DWFP

• As part of its DWFP activities, NECE hosts yearly equipment workshops conducted at the Center (value beyond DoD —essentially, sole, global “consumer reports”) – Evaluations conducted in collaboration with USDA-ARS-APMRU Aerial Application Technology Unit – Droplet spectrum analysis is conducted on equipment brought to NECE by invited manufacturers

Other NECE Responsibilities/Activities

• Navy and Marine Corps operational support • President’s Malaria Initiative • Entomological services beyond the scope of afloat and shore commands • Pesticide Applicator Training • Training of New Accession Entomologists • Program Managers for Navy Shipboard Pest Control • CDR Schoeler is the Specialty Leader for Navy Entomology (currently 36 AD Entomologists)

NECE’s Recent Operational Support

• Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan − LTJG Kavanaugh recently returned from 7 month deployment to Afghanistan.

− LTJG Mejeoumov deployed as part of Prev Med Unit.

− LTJG Hughes and LTJG Larson deployed to Afghanistan in Jan 2010.

• Operation Iraqi Freedom - Iraq • Operation Continuing Promise • Pacific Partnership 09

Navy Entomology Center of Excellence

Navy Entomology Center of Excellence will be recognized as a global center of excellence for the development of innovative pesticide application equipment and technologies, and the center of choice for operational entomology products and services for our Nation’s Military Forces.