THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S LETTER

Dear Reader, Thank you for taking the time to review the Washington Military Department Annual Report, our comprehensive publication that highlights our department’s accomplishments over the past year. We hope this provides you with a better understanding of our agency structure, our leadership team and the work our men and women do to improve the lives of those in Washington state, across the nation and around the globe.

This past year brought challenges we have never previously had to deal with – at least not in my lifetime. I’m proud of our men and women, who showed exceptional commitment to our state and nation. They used creativity and flexibility to effectively support and serve those who rely on our help, even through a global pandemic.

To say it’s been a trying year would be an understatement. When a Snohomish County man received the nation’s first diagnosis of COVID-19 in late January, our SEOC fully activated and remains that way as we head into the New Year.

While the last year was difficult, it did highlight the wide breadth of skills and abilities within the Washington Military Department, and the variety of missions we support. Our team helped procure and distribute more than 100 million pieces of personal protective equipment, while at the same time develop strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, leaders at the Washington Youth Academy developed a new online curriculum to use in a virtual environment, while members of our National Guard boxed and distributed food, supported community-based test sites, assembled test kits and verified unemployment claims.

In addition to our response to COVID-19, we helped lead and coordinate emergency responses to catastrophic wildfires, a massive cyber attack against our state IT infrastructure and provided support to local law enforcement agencies handling civil disturbances. Meanwhile, we said good-bye to hundreds of our soldiers and airmen as they were federally activated to serve in locations around the world to support our ongoing missions.

The sacrifices required to successfully fulfill our mission are often great and time consuming. Our military personnel often find themselves miles away from their families, friends and employers for lengthy periods of time to support both domestic and federal missions. Our emergency management personnel put in considerably long hours, regardless of the time of day, to assist our partners across the state and nation during a disaster response. I’m proud to have so many talented and dedicated individuals on our team who work incredibly hard to make our state and nation a safer place. Your sacrifice is not unnoticed and you have my deepest gratitude.

Bret D. Daugherty Major General The Adjutant General Washington