Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – Arnold Air Force Base, headquarters of Arnold Engineering Development Complex, welcomed Tech. Sgt. Antoinette Dupree as the base’s new Public Health (PH) Technician.
According to Dupree, her primary mission is preventing illness through education and
community outreach.
“My responsibilities are far-reaching, affording me the unique ability and opportunity
to impact everyone on base,” she stated.
William Russell, Chief of Logistics and Health Services, stated that this is the first PH Technician on base in a decade.
“I’ve been here more than five years and the individuals attempting to perform her duties were here more than five years before that, so I’m confident in saying that we haven’t had a dedicate PH Technician in 10 years,” stated Russell. “The personnel attempting to perform PH duties were Independent Duty Medical Technicians (IDMT) who specialize in performing limited medical physician treatment duties, such as, wrapping sprained ankles, bandaging cuts and burns, splinting fractured limbs, etc.”
Dupree’s duties will include the following programs:
• Conducting disease surveillance for Tuberculosis and food and waterborne illnesses
• Conducting food safety/defense inspections and public facility inspections such as the fitness center.
• Providing food handler’s training and oversees special events/fundraiser request.
• Evaluating the processes involved in food preparation, transportation, storage, and service to ensure quality and safety standards are met.
• Mitigating occupational and environmental health risks that impact reproductive health and fetal development.
• Performing shops visits to educate workers and proactively identify, assess, and control occupational and environmental health hazards.
• Conducting deployment clearances ensuring deployers are medically cleared for their deployment.
• Conducting mosquito trapping and tick drags to detect and monitor for potential threats to the base.
• Performing rabies surveillance via the Animal bite program
“I also provide Tricare beneficiaries pre-travel health counseling for individuals for international travel and laboratory testing on ticks removed from individuals,” added Dupree.
Russell said that the presence of a dedicated public health technician is “paramount for safeguarding the health and well-being of the entire base populace.”
“She serves as the vital link between test operations and public health principles, ensuring the prevention and control of infectious diseases, promoting healthy behaviors, and mitigating environmental hazards that could impact personnel and their families,” he explained. “Her expertise is crucial for developing and implementing proactive strategies that minimizes health risks, optimizes force readiness, and sustains a healthy and resilient population. From managing outbreaks, to performing region-wide research laying the foundation for HPCON (Health Protection Condition) declarations and conducting risk assessments to providing health education and coordinating with local public health agencies, she will play an indispensable role advising the Wing Commander (Wg/CC) on how best to protect the health of his workforce (military and civilians) and secure the effectiveness of our test mission.”
He added that she is a valuable asset to the personnel here at Arnold.
“TSgt Dupree is a Godsend for Arnold, her PH experience is off the charts,” said Russell. “The level of scrutiny and detailed work she’s doing behind the scenes in our facilities, in our surrounding woods, on the playground, on the trails; that young lady goes everywhere, should make us all feel a lot safer.”
Dupree said she loves the challenge of the job and wants people around the base to know that she is here to make sure everyone stays safe.
“I am excited about being here at Arnold,” My role here has been challenging, but very rewarding. It has expanded my knowledge within my field and contributed to my professional growth.”