Gary Jandzinski is the new Emergency Operations Center manager for NAS Whidbey Island.

He reported to work in late January and hit the ground running, attending an EOC training course in February with students from Naval Station Everett and NAS, and learning how to operate the equipment and programs in the EOC located on the first floor of building 385 — just in time to participate in the recent Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield anti-terrorism force protection exercise.

As the EOC Manager, he considers himself a facilitator. His job is to provide EOC members with the tools and training they need to manage an “event” — planned or unplanned — and ensure those tools are up and running so they’re available when the base commander determines the EOC team needs to assemble to respond.

Even more important is helping the team develop a common operating picture for the skipper to effectively manage anything from a general public visit like the upcoming Centennial of Naval Aviation Fly In on July 30 to a natural disaster or terrorist attack. 

“My job is to help the management of an incident and ensure communication and information system tools are at-the-ready for the Incident Management Team here on NAS Whidbey”, said Jandzinski. “I like to be the ‘guy behind the curtain,’ valuable, but unseen.”

The Pacific Northwest feels like home to Jandzinski. He grew up in Bremerton and attended Central Kitsap High and Seattle University.

He retired as a Lt. Col. from the U.S. Air Force about five years ago with 20 years’ experience in logistics management and aircraft maintenance.

He also has a couple of years working part time with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a Disaster Assistance Employee.

His job as Logistics Section Chief has taken him to Texas during Hurricane Ike, Oregon for disaster relief following severe flooding in the Salem area and several winter storms in Washington.

“I’m very excited to be working with the Navy,” he said. Not only is he happy not to be travelling for extended periods of time, he also has been impressed with the base overall. “There is an atmosphere of calm competency about the people I’ve worked with so far. Everyone here has a real team mentality.”

He and wife, Cheryl, enjoy biking and camping, when Washington’s weather allows.