Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Airman 1st Class Pollyann Valenzuela, 75th Medical Group medic stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, assigned to 1st Detachment, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, administers a COVID-19 vaccination to a local community member at the state-run, federally-supported Ford Field COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center in Detroit, Mich., March 26, 2021. The Ford Field CVC is being supported by members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Henry Ford Health Systems, Michigan Department of Health, Meijer and the U.S. Air Force. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to FEMA as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19.First AF’s 64th AEG Airmen support COVID-19 response in 30 states
                        
                        
                        Airman 1st Class Pollyann Valenzuela, 75th Medical Group medic stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, assigned to 1st Detachment, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, administers a COVID-19 vaccination to a local community member at the state-run, federally-supported Ford Field COVID-19 Community Vaccination Center in Detroit, Mich., March 26, 2021. The Ford Field CVC is being supported by members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Henry Ford Health Systems, Michigan Department of Health, Meijer and the U.S. Air Force. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to FEMA as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Wash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Staff Sgt. Deshaun Jones, 6th Force Support Squadron, Tampa, Fla., poses for a photo at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Community Vaccination Center in St. Paul, Minn., April 26, 2021. The CVC is completely operational and is welcoming the St. Paul community to receive free COVID-19 vaccines. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19.First AF’s 64th AEG Airmen support COVID-19 response in 30 states
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Deshaun Jones, 6th Force Support Squadron, Tampa, Fla., poses for a photo at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Community Vaccination Center in St. Paul, Minn., April 26, 2021. The CVC is completely operational and is welcoming the St. Paul community to receive free COVID-19 vaccines. U.S. Northern Command, through U.S. Army North, remains committed to providing continued, flexible Department of Defense support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Hunter Garcia)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Airman First Class Taneia Thomas and Staff Sgt. Saundra Turner, medical technicians with the 87th Medical Operations Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., assigned to the 2nd Detachment, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, pose for a picture in between vaccinations at the state-led, federally supported Community Vaccination Center at the former Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., April 29, 2021. In addition to administering vaccines, the medical professionals assigned to the CVC monitor the care of all patients, before and after each shot, in order to maintain site safety and respond to any adverse or situation.First AF’s 64th AEG Airmen support COVID-19 response in 30 states
                        
                        
                        Airman First Class Taneia Thomas and Staff Sgt. Saundra Turner, medical technicians with the 87th Medical Operations Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., assigned to the 2nd Detachment, 64th Air Expeditionary Group, pose for a picture in between vaccinations at the state-led, federally supported Community Vaccination Center at the former Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., April 29, 2021. In addition to administering vaccines, the medical professionals assigned to the CVC monitor the care of all patients, before and after each shot, in order to maintain site safety and respond to any adverse or situation. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Brittney Sturgis)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

First AF’s 64th AEG Airmen support COVID-19 response in 30 statesPublished May 19, 2021
                    
                    By  Lt. Col. Jonathan F. Austin
                    
                    
                    64th Air Expeditionary Group
            **TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --**Airmen managed by **First Air Force** (Air Forces Northern)’s 64th Air Expeditionary Group are supporting Federal Emergency Management Agency’s vaccination operations across FEMA Regions 5-10 including 30 states, four territories and the Republic of Marshall Islands.
“To date, Airmen from the 64th AEG distributed almost 748,000 vaccinations, and I couldn’t be more pleased with their tenacious efforts supporting the whole-of-government effort,” said**Lt. Gen. Kirk Pierce**, 1AF commander.
The 64th AEG, commanded by Col. David Vanderburg, provides administrative support for the 800 Air Force personnel assigned to five community vaccination centers. This includes the 64th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron located in Houston, Texas; Detachment 1 located in Detroit, Michigan; Detachment 2 located in Gary, Indiana; Detachment 3 located in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Detachment 4 located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
To operate these units, Air Force personnel from more than 30 Air Force installations cover all aspects of community vaccination center site operations from biohazard storage and disposal, supply delivery management, customer-service processing, vaccinations, post-vaccine monitoring and any first-aid response needed. In addition, they operate in various conditions from outdoor tented drive through facilities to indoor walk-in venues.
“A story about the unit wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the accomplishments of what these great Airmen are doing every day to help save lives and return our country to normal,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan F. Austin, 64th AEG deputy commander.
The 64 EMDOS’s, 1st Lt. Marissa Sunnekalb, a clinical nurse from **Offutt Air Force Base**, Nebraska, who served as observation nurse, established the 64th AEG's first Air Force **COVID-19** mass vaccination site within five days of arrival. Her contributions allowed the team of 221 active-duty members to deliver more than 350,000 vaccinations. She leads a team of 12 medical personnel in the observation of up to 7,000 patients per day.
“Det. 1, “Motor City’s” medic, Airman 1st Class Pollyann Valenzuela, from **Hill AFB**, Utah, who served as a site vaccinator, summed up perfectly her contribution to the surrounding area of Detroit,” Austin said.
“While this may appear as a simple shot to some ... to the citizens of Detroit, this has been a truly emotional gift that can help families, friends and loved ones reunite and continue to live life again without the fear of the coronavirus,” Valenzuela said. “I have personally witnessed the emotional impact that this pandemic can have on a person and am honored to be working alongside our interagency partners to support our nation’s response.”
Austin lauded the efforts of other AEG members who assisted the public.
“Two key members of Gary, Indiana’s “Screaming Eagles” CVC, Staff Sgt. Saundra Turner and Airman 1st Class Taneia Thomas, medical technicians from **McGuire AFB**, New Jersey, are vital to our Gary, Indiana site,” Austin said.
Turner, vaccination team noncommissioned officer in charge, led an outdoor vaccination pod comprising a team of two other vaccinators responsible for safely administering the vaccine to the public. Thomas, who served as a site vaccinator, screened and administered the vaccine to those receiving it.
“Their personal touch contributed to those who receive the vaccine having an encouraging view on the vaccination experience,” Austin said.
At St. Paul, Minnesota’s “Kings of the North” CVC, Staff Sgt. DeShaun Jones, a services technician from **MacDill AFB**, who assisted with the site’s customer service, provided translation services for non-English speaking guests covering 41 languages through on-site or virtual translators.
“Most importantly, the emotional support he provides for guests with COVID-19 vaccine fears; whether it is needle phobia, anxiety about possible side effects, or vaccine misinformation, plays a key role in the site’s success,” Austin said. “His encouraging emotional support gives guests a positive encounter incentivizing their return for their second dose and willingness to share their positive experience with family members, co-workers, and other community members – a win for St. Paul.”
Airman 1st Class Katie Terra’s, a personnel specialist from **Tyndall AFB**, serving at the 64th's newest CVC site at Grand Rapids, who is the site’s personnel support for contingency operations summed up the significance of her role.
“Being a part of the COVID-19 vaccination support team and being PERSCO allows me to ensure that Airmen are administratively accounted for and to provide information that is being asked for from my command staff,” Terra said. “I am grateful for this opportunity of meeting new Airmen and learning new tasks that I will use in my Air Force career once our mission is complete. I am excited to see Airmen come together from all over the country and to work together to assist on putting a stop to COVID-19.”
“The entire 800-plus member team in the 64th AEG plays a key part supporting the nation in this fight against COVID-19,” Vanderburg said. “These Airmen help make the state-run, federally-supported, CVC sites possible. The 64th AEG Airmen are proud of the critical role they play in successfully keeping our fellow Americans safe and helping us return to normal. We’ll continue the support of the 64th (AEG) until all our Airmen return home safely and we are no longer needed by civil authorities.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



COVID-19 



AEG 



AFNORTH 



Air Forces Northern 



1st AF 



64th AEG 



FEMA 



vaccines 



whole-of-government 



CVC 



One Air Force 



ACOL 



safety Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil