Cutting Through the Red Tape: ASPR’s Regional Operation Teams Empowers Local Public Health Leaders

All emergencies are local. When state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) leaders are empowered to make key decisions about disaster response and recovery operations, communities benefit. 

On March 18, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14239 as a clear mandate to reduce the complexity of federal disaster management policies and empower state and local leaders. The federal government offers many services that SLTT leaders can leverage to protect health and save lives. However, finding the right federal public health and medical resource to meet a community's need can be a challenge – that's where ASPR's Regional Operation teams comes in.

ASPR's Regional Operation teams, including its Regional Administrators (RAs) and Regional Emergency Coordinators (RECs), help cut through red tape. They serve as ASPR's representatives to federal, state, tribal and territorial healthcare officials. From preparedness planning to disaster exercises, through response and recovery operations, ASPR's RAs and RECs are situated across the country to provide support and help their SLTT partners navigate the wide array of public health and medical services that are available from the federal government.

Does this system work? According to our state partners, the answer is yes. We talked with 5 directors of public health preparedness (DPHP) from across the country to get their perspectives.

Sheryl Roub, Public Health Preparedness and Response Unit Manager at the Wyoming Department of Health, describes ASPR RAs and RECs as "strategic problem solvers." They serve as an important resource that helps states connect with federal resources, provide a critical perspective, and offer technical assistance. "RECs provide critical guidance and a broader perspective, especially when it comes to integrating federal assets into state responses." says Tim Wiedrich, Director of the Health Response and Licensure Section at the North Dakota Department of Health.

ASPR RECs help states face and address their most complex public health and medical challenges. "Radiation is one of those tricky spaces for states. We're much more comfortable planning for and responding to environmental threats," explained Jay Fiedler, Director of the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS, and Systems of Care for the Michigan Department of Health. However, Michigan is home to several nuclear power plants, so it is critical that the state is ready to respond to a radiation incident.

Fiedler relied on the perspective of his ASPR REC throughout the planning process for Cobalt 25, a federally sponsored radiation exercise. "Our REC was there from the beginning of a year-long planning process next to my state emergency management coordinator, all the way through the execution of the exercise. He was literally sitting in our state health Emergency Operation Center, right next to us, helping us to navigate those federal resources from a lot of different federal agencies that we're not used to working with…Our access to RECs helps us respond in the most meaningful and in the most complete way that we could."

ASPR RECs can also connect their partners with some unique federal public health and medical resources. When an anthrax outbreak was identified in a herd of cattle in Wyoming, the state reached out to their REC for support. The REC worked to help the state DPHP get the federal assistance needed. Working first through the HHS Secretary's Operations Center and then through the CDC Emergency Operations Center, the REC helped the state DPHP to find the right people at CDC to initiate a clinical evaluation. Following the evaluation, the state received doses of Cyfendus, a newly approved medical countermeasure, to protect the community. Cyfendus was delivered in just a few days, enabling the state to deploy the product to three sites that needed it. "This response could not have happened without all of the REC's help," explained Roub. "I know I can call on them at any time."

When major disasters strike, ASPR RECs are there to ensure the state knows which federal public health and medical resources are available and can help the states get the help they need. Paul Petersen, Director of the Emergency Preparedness Program for Tennessee's Department of Health, recalls that "RECs were instrumental during the Helene disaster, assisting with patient evacuations and resource coordination." For example, the ASPR RECs assisted state officials with activation of the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP). EPAP was activated at the request of the state, helping disaster survivors get access to prescription medications, durable medical equipment, and more. "Just having that input from the RECs helped us pull together all of these pieces that we had in play to ensure people could get access to care," said Petersen.

At the national level, responses that trigger a Stafford Act declaration get the most attention, but state and local responders manage every single emergency that happens in their jurisdictions. ASPR RECs are there to help during both the big events and the smaller, more routine emergencies.

For example, a power outage in New Hampshire didn't make national headlines, but it did threaten patient health in the jurisdiction. As part of the state's response, Stephanie Locke, Bureau Chief for Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services called her REC for support. The REC helped coordinate resources during the power outage. Locke worked with her local REC to identify available resources to help protect patient safety. Ultimately, the hospital didn't have to evacuate.

Empowered local leaders are the cornerstone of effective disaster response and recovery. ASPR RECs are vital allies, streamlining processes so SLTT partners can effectively manage disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations. When federal public health and medical resources are needed by SLTT partners, RECs truly serve as the "front door to ASPR".

As we look ahead to 2026, we're excited to continue building on this strong partnership and working together to support communities nationwide for years to come. If you are a SLTT public health or emergency management professional, take the time to get to know your ASPR REC or RA. 

Looking for a way to connect? You can find their contact information right here.

Thanks to the following DPHPs for contributing their perspectives to this blog: Jay Fiedler (Michigan), Stephanie Loke (New Hampshire), Paul Petersen (Tennessee), Sheryl Roub (Wyoming), and Tim Wiedrich (North Dakota).