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Frequently Asked Questions
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This page contains a list of questions commonly asked about the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMHA). If you have a question or concern not addressed on this page, please feel free to call us at 808-433-1433 or e-mail frontoffice@coe-dmha.org.
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What is the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance?
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The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, referred to as “COE” for short, is a US Department of Defense organization with a congressional mandate to educate, train, research, and assist in disaster management and humanitarian assistance operations.
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Why is our acronym "COE", not "CFE", when our name is "Center for Excellence?"
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Our congressional mandate entitled us, "Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance" in 1994. However, most organizations similar to our category are commonly designated as a "Center of Excellence," and we informally adopted that title. In February 2007 we reasserted our original title to better reflect our identity as a "Center for Excellence." This depicts our organization’s active and lead role in providing and facilitating education, training, interagency coordination, and research in disaster preparedness and societal resiliency. Most importantly, the title reflects our part in a larger, ongoing collaborative effort among multinational civilian and military entities.
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Why was COE established?
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COE was established in October 1994 in response to experiences of the U.S. military, which indicated that the dramatic change in world politics and subsequent asymmetric warfare meant new challenges to the cold war institutions that had been in place for more than fifty years, and that adaptation to the increase in civilian response to humanitarian crises was required. COE has a congressional mandate and was created with the sponsorship of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
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To whom does COE report?
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COE is a direct reporting unit to US Pacific Command (USPACOM), which oversees US military forces and US Department of Defense assets in the Asia-Pacific Region. The Director of COE, a civilian, reports directly to the Deputy Combatant Commander and Combatant Commander of USPACOM. COE also gives support to other U.S. Combatant Commands (COCOMs). COE also receives policy guidance from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations.
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Is COE operational, that is, does it respond to events with personnel and/or material support?
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COE is generally not operational in the traditional sense; i.e., we are not a 'first-responder' organization. Mainly, COE assists the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), U.S. Combatant Commands (COCOMs), foreign governments and international organizations to understand the regional framework for disaster preparedness, including clearly defined roles and responsibilities of all involved, and a coordinated whole-of-government approach to disaster management, mitigation, response, recovery and transition, societal development, and humanitarian assistance and resiliency. In the past, COE staff members have supported USPACOM, US Agency for International Development (USAID), or the United Nations (UN) with coordination during responses to major disasters, on a case-by-case basis.
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Is COE involved in policy-making?
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COE does not set policy for the Department of Defense (DoD). The Center informs COCOMs, DoD Joint Staff, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations regarding HADR operations, concepts, and doctrine.
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Is COE involved in domestic response issues?
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It is developing a resiliency framework that is applicable to all levels of society, whether U.S. or foreign. The framework provides a way of thinking for planning and decision-making that can be universally used to facilitate collaboration and coordination in building a resilient society. COE is working with domestic partners to provide fidelity and feedback into this framework. Although most of COE’s events currently occur overseas, COE occasionally assists, at the request of US government agencies, in providing education, training, and consultation on such issues as improving interagency coordination for disaster preparedness responders.
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Where does COE's funding come from?
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COE's primary source of operating funds comes from the US Department of Defense, as authorized and appropriated by Congress. Additional funds are secured from diverse elements of the US Government, including the Department of State and the Department of Defense for specific conferences, seminars, or exercises. Events are often times co-sponsored by host nations and agencies and departments of the United Nations.
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Does COE operate in a classified environment?
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COE does not normally operate in a classified environment (but can), nor are its products classified.
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Why is COE situated in Hawaii?
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COE directly reports to US Pacific Command, which is headquartered at Camp Smith, Hawaii. In addition, Hawaii is also centrally positioned between the seat of the US federal government in Washington, DC, and the countries of Asia and the Pacific. Hawaii's diverse cultural backgrounds make it an ideal location for many of COE's multilateral events.
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How is COE organized?
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COE is currently organized into four directorates: Disaster Management, Health Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Resiliency, and Research. Support functions include administration, travel, multimedia and graphics, outreach and external relations, and information technology. Staff number around 42, augmented with consultants and are combined US Government civil service, US active duty and retired military, and civilian contractors.
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What products does COE produce and how are they disseminated?
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Many of COE's information products are available electronically through this website, including the situational reports and the Liaison (COE's annual journal). Other materials are available to participants of a particular activity, such as courses, workshops and conferences.
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Who can attend COE-sponsored education and training events?
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Most events are intended for specific audiences. These include multilateral and bilateral events for which the intended participants will receive an invitation. Other events are customized education and training activities and conferences for specific disciplines or organizations, such as exercises and TAP (Training Assistance Program) courses, which are open to U.S. military personnel or sponsoring military.
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How can I find out more about COE's coming events?
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Please check our website periodically for announcements and updates, or contact our Front Office at frontoffice@coe-dmha.org or Tel: +1 808 433 7035.
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What products does COE produce and how are they disseminated?
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Many of COE's information products are available electronically through this website, including Disaster Response Handbooks (country level), CenterWorks quarterly newsletter, HADR situational reports, Information Resource Center (IRC) reference library, best practice repository, and the Liaison (COE's annual journal). Other materials are available to participants of a particular activity, such as courses, workshops and conferences.
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