Space Launch Delta 45, Florida National Guard team up to bolster hazmat response

Space Launch Delta 45 and the Florida Army National Guard’s 44th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team carried out a two-day CBRNE training exercise on Florida’s Space Coast, staging scenarios July 28 at Patrick Space Force Base and July 30 at Kennedy Space Center. It was the second time SLD 45 has hosted the unit, part of an ongoing effort to sharpen how spaceport and Guard responders work together under pressure.

The civil support team, a predominantly full-time Florida Army National Guard element augmented by a small Air Force contingent, assists civilian authorities when chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threats outstrip local HAZMAT resources. Its mandate centers on protecting public health and coordinating with municipal, state and federal agencies in both deliberate attacks and accidental releases.

Structured to plug directly into an incident command system, the 44th fields survey teams that push into contaminated zones to take readings and gather samples, decontamination crews that manage safe entry and exit for responders, and embedded medical personnel prepared to treat exposures. The team also deploys a secure, self-contained command node with encrypted communications and a mobile lab designed to identify unknown agents on site.

“Public safety is our No. 1 priority,” said Florida Army National Guard Lt. Col. David Deitz, 44th WMD-CST commander. “We are committed to answering every alert and showing up wherever necessary in order to support local and federal agencies in CBRNE matters.”

The scenario-based training focused on a simulated chemical release. Responders set up a decontamination corridor, synchronized communications and then sent survey elements into the notional hot zone to characterize hazards, collect evidence and assess risks. Planners said the emphasis was on refining shared procedures and speeding decision-making across organizations that would converge in a real emergency.

For SLD 45 emergency management personnel, the event doubled as cross-training with a team that routinely supports hazardous incidents across the state and as an avenue to deepen relationships that would be critical during a launch-related response. The collaboration also exposes Airmen and Guardians to potential post-service roles with the civil support team.

“Working with our local partners to facilitate this training helps them remain proficient in their field,” said Master Sgt. Robert Ridgway, SLD 45 Emergency Management Flight noncommissioned officer in charge. “This joint collaboration aids in improving both teams’ procedures for more effective emergency response. Many of our 45th CES EM personnel are exposed to this as a future career opportunity following their service. More training like this helps strengthen and develop our force.”

Officials said regular joint drills like these are intended to keep both organizations ready to move quickly in support of surrounding communities, mission partners and the nation’s busiest spaceport.