Olympic Medical Center recently named Brenda White as the new emergency preparedness coordinator, the organization announced in a press release in late March.

White is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with over 24 years of experience in marine safety, contingency planning and emergency management.

“Brenda is an asset that is going to bring Olympic Medical Center and our community to the next level of emergency preparedness. It’s really exciting to have her here,” said Julie Black, director of Support Services.

Along with the Support Services team, White will create and test processes and plans for effective emergency responses from OMC.

In this role, she works to ensure the organization is in alignment with the FEMA Hospital Incident Command System and is prepared to perform timely and coordinated responses when a disaster or community emergency arises.

“This role allows me to help in a way that brings my skill set to the community while also taking our emergency preparedness to the next level,” White said. “I’ve always been a helper, and I am fortunate to be doing something I love.”

White has a master’s of science degree in quality systems management, and most recently served as the Contingency Planning and Force Readiness Branch Chief at the Eleventh Coast Guard District.

White joins the emergency preparedness team at OMC, which includes Black, safety assistant Julie Shea and security supervisor Logan Smith, among others throughout the organization.

“It’s a lot more important a position than people might realize, and Brenda brings a whole other level of expertise; we’re looking forward to having her,” Black said.