Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) facilitates a tabletop exercise during Continuing Promise 2025 to enhance preparedness, improved interoperability, and improve civil-military coordination during large-scale disasters and humanitarian crises.

Photo credit: Pacific Disaster Center

Manta, Ecuador—As part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25) mission ship, the USNS Comfort made its third mission stop in Ecuador during the month of July. 

Objectives of CP25 mission in Manta were to improve medical readiness, enhance combined capabilities for responding to public health crises, and to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) readiness while fostering goodwill and strengthening partnerships between the United States and Ecuador. 

With support from the Kentucky National Guard, Joint Task Force–Bravo, FEMA, and Pacific Disaster Center, Continuing Promise 2025 brought together diverse Ecuadorian agencies to build capabilties and strengthen partnerships.

Photo credit: Pacific Disaster Center

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) joined the mission from 14-17 July, 2025, at the request of U.S. SOUTHCOM and the United States Embassy in Quito, providing subject-matter expertise and training on the Center’s advanced situational awareness technologies and risk analytics developed through an ongoing partnership with Ecuador’s national disaster management organization, the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR).

“PDC is eager to support our partners throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America during Continuing Promise each year. This year, we visited Ecuador to collaborate with SNGR, Ecuadorian partners, FEMA, JTF-B and the Kentucky National Guard—observing an exercise scenario and conducting subject matter expert exchanges and training on our DisasterAWARE technology,” said PDC’s Exercise Lead and Disaster Management Specialist, Scott Kuykendall. “These events are key to expanding partnerships and helping to build partner nation capacity.”

“This tabletop exercise (TTX) focused on a large earthquake and ensuing tsunami in the Manabi Province builds on our ongoing partnership with Ecuador’s SNGR to enhance disaster management capabilities, preparedness, and coordination between civil and military stakeholders across Ecuador. The exercise was designed and run by SNGR and was very impressive to observe.”

The mission in Ecuador encompasses various activities, including direct medical and dental care provided aboard the USNS Comfort and at community clinics, veterinary engagements, community relations projects, engineering projects, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), training, and cultural exchanges.

“Interoperability is a common buzzword among security cooperation professionals, but here in Ecuador, it is critical for mitigating risk, identifying requirements, and staying ready to save lives as we partner together for disaster preparedness. We were thrilled to have such a great turnout from multiple Ecuadorian agencies as well as the support from the Kentucky National Guard, Joint Task Force–Bravo, FEMA, and especially the Pacific Disaster Center. Thank you for presenting DisasterAWARE capabilities and helping us strengthen our partnerships,” said Captain Jason Sanderson, Bilateral Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Quito, Ecuador

The exercise was attended by the Prefect for the Manabi Prefecture, Sr. Leonardo Orlando who said, “Thank you very much for coming here to share your knowledge and experience with us. It is very valuable. As you know, we have a lot of hazards here including tsunami, flooding, structure collapse, earthquakes, and many more. We want to thank U.S. Southern Command and are honored to have The National Guard and Pacific Disaster Center here with us to discuss disaster preparation and response.

“We look forward to building upon our relationship with Ecuador through medical care and exchanges, community relations events, and experiencing the vibrant culture of Manta,” said Capt. Ryan Kendall, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 40 and CP 25 Mission Commander. “Our combined efforts to enhance readiness and strengthen our partnership will lead to a safer, more secure region.”