Q&A: Brigadier General Kevin R. Wendel
CBRNE Responder
Directing Specialized Warriors for Specialized Fights
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Brigadier General Kevin R. Wendel
Commanding General
20th Support Command
Brigadier General Kevin R. Wendel was assigned as the commanding general of the 20th Support Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives) in September 2005. He is responsible for some of the Army’s most specialized CBRNE units, such as the 52nd and 71st ordnance groups (explosive ordnance disposal) and the 22nd and 110th chemical battalions (technical escort).
He has served in a variety of command and staff positions overseas and in the United States including a Pentagon joint staff assignment as the chief of strategy and assistant deputy director for strategy and policy.
A graduate of Valley Forge Military Junior College Furman University, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration, a master’s degree in public administration from Shippensburg University, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Interviewed by MMT Editor Jeff McKaughan
Q: Good morning General Wendel. The 20th Support Command is a relatively new command. Could you give me a little background on the history and where the command came from?
A: The 20th Support Command-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosives, was activated on October 14, 2004. The command has undergone a number of changes since it was first activated. The focus of the command is on combating weapons of mass destruction. The command has a variety of roles and works with a number of partner organizations both inside and outside the Department of Defense.
Q: Being about a year and a half old, is the organization and structure now the same as it was when it first stood up? Do you see any changes coming that will better fit the unit to the mission?
A: The command has continued to transform since its activation. The mission, organization, and structure will continue to change as we gain experience and gain a better understanding of future requirements. The command has a role in all facets of combating WMD, and provides unique capabilities to meet the challenges of these complex asymmetric threats. With command and control of both chemical units and explosive ordnance disposal units, expertise is on hand to deal with any chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive threat. The Department of the Defense and the Army will continue to refine the purpose of the command, and we will continue to build capabilities to meet those requirements.
Q: In general, how would you characterize the success of your soldiers that deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years?
A: Our EOD soldiers have had a direct impact on defeating the improvised explosive device threat. Currently our number one priority of effort is to contribute to combating IEDs and be prepared for future challenges. With the help of many organizations, we have had a significant impact on eliminating this threat, but there is still much work to be done.
Q: On the chemical/biological side of things, are your units and teams as expeditionary as you would like? Do you see ways to make their deployable footprint smaller so they can move faster when required to do so?
A: We have and are building additional teams to be rapidly deployable. All of our efforts focus on expeditionary concepts, modularity and the ability to integrate into the full range of joint and coalition operations. We are linking our teams with the brigade combat teams for both rapid deployability and the maintenance of habitual relationships. This strategy provides the warfighter with advanced CBRNE planning, increased responsiveness and mobility, and a more effective means of dealing with any of the CBRNE threats.
Q: What responsibilities will you have in the event of a U.S.- based incident? Do you currently train with and/or coordinate efforts with any civilian counterparts? How about the National Guard civil support teams?
A: The 20th SUPCOM-CBRNE could deploy, command and control coordination elements [CE] or other assets worldwide in support of combatant commanders, joint task force commanders or lead federal agencies during operations or incidents involving CBRNE. In particular, our command supports NORTHCOM, which has a key role in support to civilian authorities in the event of a CBRNE incident or attack on the homeland. Our assets may also deploy for designated national special security events, for example, the Olympics, presidential inaugurations, etc. The CEs are highly specialized, rapidly deployable teams of CBRNE soldiers and Army civilians with a robust secure communications package. They are tailored packages to meet the requirements of the mission. They typically provide staff augmentation, technical subject matter expertise, planning support, reach-back and hazard modeling or prediction. The National Guard Civil Support Teams are an integral part of homeland defense missions, and routinely provide paid first response to CBRNE incidents. Our CEs would deploy to assist in command and control efforts and to help mitigate the consequences of the event. We do have an active exercise program with NORTHCOM and joint task force—civil support to maintain our capability to provide support for incidents within the United States.
Q: Are you tasked to work with foreign governments, especially with detection capabilities along some border areas that are considered porous?
A: We do have missions to support NATO forces with some of our specialized capabilities. We routinely collaborate with partner nations with similar organizations.
Q: I understand that your teams are manned by experts with both NBC and EOD backgrounds. How has that affected the training regime and the number of available soldiers in each field?
A: Yes, both our staff and our teams are manned by soldiers trained in state-of-the-art CBRN and EOD tactics, techniques and procedures. Training is the centerpiece of our efforts, conducted in some of the most advanced facilities available. Soldiers must be skilled in the full spectrum of Army warrior tasks, as well as trained and certified in a wide variety of CBRNE skills. It takes months to get new team members fully certified. Once the initial training is complete, there is a substantial amount of special skills and sustainment training that must be conducted.
Q: What are some of your key analytical tools that you use to determine if there is a real threat in an area and then determine exactly what that threat is?
A: Our teams deploy with some of the most cutting edge technology available. This equipment can range from man-portable detectors all the way up to mobile lab facilities capable of doing some of the highest levels of analytical work. This broad range of tools gives the command the ability to tailor capabilities for each mission. Additionally, our soldiers are thoroughly trained on sampling and transportation techniques so anything needing additional lab analysis or that is outside our spectrum can be transferred to one of our home station partners for further analysis and evaluation.
Q: Is technology advancing at a pace that you will be able to have detection equipment that is sensitive enough for reliable readings but yet with enough capability to detect a wide range of agents?
A: Yes, technology is rapidly advancing our technical capabilities. We actively pursue cutting-edge technology to provide our team full-spectrum capabilities. We have a unique partnership with leading national labs and scientific organization to build reliable tools that soldiers can use. The desired end-state is simple-to-use tools that provide identification for a broad range of agents and toxic materials, and detection limits well below hazardous levels for our soldiers. Our challenge is that the threat is advancing on a pace commensurate with the advance of technology, so this requires a constant focus on fielding the best possible technology solutions to our teams.
Q: Are all soldiers in your command active-duty? Do you have any Reserve or National Guard assets that you can call upon?
A: The 20th is a multi-component headquarters and authorized active duty, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers. The majority of the command is manned with active-duty soldiers and Department of the Army civilians.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I would like to thank you for this opportunity to speak to your readers and showcase the outstanding personnel and capabilities within our command. We perform a wide range of complex CBRNE tasks in support of our nation that requires a tremendous amount of commitment, dedication and specialized training. We are supported by a great network of scientific and warfighting organizations. ♦