By Capt. Peter Drasutis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office
NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana’s Unified Logistics Element, a joint team of Louisiana Army and Air National Guard personnel, GOHSEP staff and contracted logistics partners, conducted a command post exercise on June 12, 2025, to test and refine the state’s logistics response framework ahead of the 2025 hurricane season. Operating out of GOHSEP’s logistics facility in Baton Rouge, the ULE serves as the central hub for coordinating and distributing life-sustaining commodities following major disasters.
“This exercise brought the ULE to full operational strength with over 75 personnel working in sync, many of whom are only activated during disaster events,” said Steven Buchholz, GOHSEP logistics program manager. “We had Guard personnel, POD and warehouse contractors and dual-hatted hazard mitigation staff rehearsing exactly how equipment and supplies will be moved to parishes during a storm. We’re making sure we’re ready to respond within hours, not days.”
The CPX scenario focused on real-time planning and coordination of Points of Distribution (PODs) and the Logistics Staging Area. These are core ULE functions that enable the rapid push of emergency supplies such as water, MREs, tarps and generators. Participants also tested streamlined procurement processes and used pre-negotiated vendor contracts to avoid delays experienced in past emergency responses.
“The ULE is Louisiana’s logistical engine during hurricane response,” said retired Louisiana Air National Guard Col. Pat Griffin, emergency support director for the Louisiana Military Department and the State’s Emergency Support Function 7 lead. “This year, we exercised nearly 80 POD activations, which is realistic for a storm like Laura or Ida. By integrating contractors and Guard personnel early, we free up military manpower for other critical missions the Governor may assign, while still sustaining commodity flow to the field.”
Annual drills like the CPX sharpen interagency coordination and ensure the ULE remains mission ready. As part of Louisiana’s broader disaster response infrastructure, the ULE plays a key role in making sure life-sustaining commodities reach communities in the critical hours and days following a major storm.
