Commander Alvin Gayle has been seconded from the Jamaica Defence Force to serve as Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
This follows Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ announcement that, effective immediately, ODPEM will be brought under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to strengthen national coordination and improve logistical support for the Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts.
A media release from the OPM on Wednesday said Richard Thompson, who was Acting Director General of ODPEM, will now support the Office in the establishment of strategic frameworks and systems that will help guide Jamaica’s recovery programme.
The OPM notes that Commander Gayle is a seasoned military officer with over two decades of service in the Jamaica Defence Force, where he has held key leadership roles, including Executive Officer at the Maritime Air and Cyber Command, Commanding Officer of the First District Coast Guard, and Commandant of the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre.
It says he brings extensive experience in operational planning, crisis management, maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention, and risk management. His training also includes maritime disaster prevention, industrial firefighting and crew endurance and risk management, equipping him with the skills to manage complex emergency operations and build national resilience.
Commander Gayle holds a Master of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Arts in Defence and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.
OPM says his background in operational planning and coordination positions him to lead the ODPEM at a pivotal moment in the national response effort.
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