The Washington State Military Department is a branch of the state government of Washington, United States.
The Washington State Military Department has several major operational divisions: [1]
These divisions use state and federal resources to perform homeland defense, homeland security, and emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities. [1]
Since June 29, 2024, Brigadier General Gent Walsh has been the adjutant general, director of the Washington Military Department and homeland security advisor to the governor. [6] [7]
The Washington State Emergency Operations Center is located at Camp Murray, under the Military Department's Emergency Management Division. [8] The 28,000 square foot facility, occupied since mid 1998, is built on rollers to withstand earthquakes. [9] [10] The Emergency Operations Center was activated for the 2012 Washington wildfires, [11] 2015 Washington wildfires, [10] 2016 Washington wildfires, [12] 2018 Washington wildfires, and for the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. [13]