The dual-status commander: An emerging actor in emergency management

This research explored the role of the dual-status commander (DSC) construct during imminent and no-notice disasters through the lens of state-level civilian emergency managers through one primary and three subquestions. The main research question was: What are state-level civilian emergency managers' views about the role of the DSC during imminent and no-notice disasters? The DSC construct is designed to improve the unity of effort among federal and National Guard military forces when they are operating within a state during domestic disasters. The DSC has only recently been employed during imminent and no-notice disasters in support of civil authorities. Little research is available regarding the views civilian emergency managers have of DSCs when they are used in these types of disasters. Addressing this gap adds value to the emergency management profession because civilian emergency managers who have not had a complex disaster in their state may lack familiarity with the DSC construct. Through a qualitative method, a purposefully selected sample of state-level civilian emergency managers were surveyed and interviewed. The data informed the research questions, and results provide emergency management and military professions greater understanding of expectations emergency managers have of DSCs. Emergency managers should know in advance how to work with DSCs assigned to support them because DSCs are supposed to improve delivery of military resources in support of relief priorities and objectives. The results from the study are also intended to improve emergency management doctrine and emergency managers' Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) education programs.