FAMU alumnus leads Florida National Guard as it responds to Hurricane Irma

Adjutant General Michael A. Calhoun stands to the left of Gov. Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott has activated the entire force of the Florida Army and Air National Guard – 7,000 guard members – to support with planning, and logistics operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. An alumnus of Florida A&M University is in charge of leading the Florida National Guard as it responds to the storm.

Back on March 29, 2015, Michael A. Calhoun took office as the adjutant general the Florida National Guard. The position makes him the top ranked commissioned officer in the organization. He graduated from FAMU in 1976 with a B.S. in pharmacy.

Calhoun has a huge task ahead as the state prepares to recover from Irma. He is in charge of coordinating a multi-state response focused on planning and preparing thousands of forces to enhance security and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. States that have deployed troops or are positioning support include North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Connecticut, Mississippi, New Jersey, Alabama, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland and Iowa.

Florida National Guard members are stationing across the state and actively assisting with preparation efforts and supporting more than 200 shelters. The Florida National Guard has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700 generators on standby.

More than 700 more guardsmen are preparing to set up food and water distribution sites as soon as the storm passes. The Florida National Guard will also participate in reconnaissance and search and rescue missions once it is safe.