U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The U.S. Air Force Academy hosted a wildfire-and-flood tabletop exercise with local, state and federal partners to strengthen readiness and coordination for large-scale emergencies affecting the installation and surrounding communities. This exercise highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaborative relationships in effective crisis management.
The exercise was designed to test decision-making, communication, and cross-jurisdictional response under stress. Underscoring the idea that communication is key during times of crisis, participants worked through realistic scenarios requiring clear and consistent information sharing.
“Relationships are instrumental for disaster response and today’s tabletop exercise allowed us to continue building the foundation of trust and skills an emergent event of this magnitude would require from the Academy and our community partners,” said Col. David R. Herndon, deputy commander, 10th Air Base Wing. “Practicing ensures we safeguard not only the Academy, but the entire Front Range.”
Participants included Academy leaders and staff; representatives from El Paso County; the cities of Colorado Springs and Fountain; Colorado Defense Alliance; local military liaisons; and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. More than 100 participants took part in the exercise.
“This training was excellent. The discussions provided value for everyone in attendance,” Herndon said. “We look forward to continuing our ongoing collaboration and communication with our neighbors in the community and our local, state and federal partners.”
This proactive approach demonstrates the importance of preemptive planning. The time to prepare is now, not during a crisis. The exercise used wildfire progression maps and post fire flood models to identify risks and plan mitigation efforts.
The Installation Readiness program enables the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG), in partnership with the Academy and other Front Range installations, to conduct planning exercises that protect vital infrastructure and address stormwater-erosion risks that affect installation readiness and mission assurance.
The exercise, facilitated by PPACG with Academy input, was funded through the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2024 Installation Readiness grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).
View photos from the wildfire-and-flood tabletop exercise.