Military mission pivots to assist healthcare company during COVID-19

By Dorie HeyerMay 14, 2020

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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
George Coble, Manufacturing and Fabrication Division Chief, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) discusses a mask prototype with Shawn Hind, LEAD and James Eichelberger, WellSpan, at LEAD on April 14, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
George Coble, Manufacturing and Fabrication Division Chief, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) discusses a mask prototype with Shawn Hind, LEAD and James Eichelberger, WellSpan, at LEAD on April 14, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (center) discusses isolation gown materials with (from left) James Eichelberger, WellSpan, Srinath Asuri, WellSpan, and Logan Robinson, LEAD at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 22, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (center) discusses isolation gown materials with (from left) James Eichelberger, WellSpan, Srinath Asuri, WellSpan, and Logan Robinson, LEAD at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 22, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Logan Robinson, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (right), demonstrates an isolation gown prototype to James Eichelberger, WellSpan, at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 23, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Logan Robinson, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (right), demonstrates an isolation gown prototype to James Eichelberger, WellSpan, at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 23, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left), and Logan Robinson, LEAD, input data into a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) fabric cutter to produce an isolation gown at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 23, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left), and Logan Robinson, LEAD, input data into a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) fabric cutter to produce an isolation gown at the LEAD upholstery shop on April 23, 2020. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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200428-A-BS696-1449
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left), and Logan Robinson, LEAD (right), demonstrate the production process for isolation gowns to srinath Asuri, WellSpan (center). The gowns are being produced at the LEAD upholstery shop in Chambersburg, Pa. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left), and Logan Robinson, LEAD (right), demonstrate the production process for isolation gowns to srinath Asuri, WellSpan (center). The gowns are being produced at the LEAD upholstery shop in Chambersburg, Pa. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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200428-A-BS696-1454
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left) demonstrates the production process for isolation gowns to Srinath Asuri, WellSpan. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Shawn Hind, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (left) demonstrates the production process for isolation gowns to Srinath Asuri, WellSpan. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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200506-A-BS696-1655
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Gary Frehn, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) assembles an isolation gown in the upholstery shop at LEAD. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Gary Frehn, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) assembles an isolation gown in the upholstery shop at LEAD. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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200506-A-BS696-1679
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Zack Baer, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (center) demonstrates the production process for isolation gowns to (from left) George Coble, Manufacturing and Fabrication Division Chief, LEAD, Shawn Hind, LEAD, and Srinath Asuri, WellSpan. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.
Zack Baer, Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) (center) demonstrates the production process for isolation gowns to (from left) George Coble, Manufacturing and Fabrication Division Chief, LEAD, Shawn Hind, LEAD, and Srinath Asuri, WellSpan. LEAD is currently producing personal protective equipment (PPE) for WellSpan to help combat COVID-19. (U.S. Army photo by Pam Goodhart) (Photo Credit: Dorie Heyer)
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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Letterkenny Army Depot’s upholstery shop recently switched gears from its military mission to produce personal protective equipment for a local health system.

WellSpan Health officials reached out when they learned Letterkenny’s upholstery shop was making masks for the depot workforce. It didn’t take long for the depot to configure its diverse capabilities and adapt procedures for the new project that will create 70,000 isolation gowns for the healthcare organization.

While it is a shift from the tents and vinyl products the shop routinely repairs and produces in support of defense programs, this Public-Private Partnership that helps the local community prepare and respond to COVID-19 is a win-win endeavor, said Letterkenny Army Depot Commander Col. Greg Gibbons.

“As part of the Army’s Organic Industrial Base, Letterkenny is prepared to respond when the nation calls,” Gibbons said. “Part of that is response is flexibility – and we’re proud to provide a solution for our local community.”

Without missing a beat or losing focus on mission readiness, Letterkenny Army Depot’s Manufacturing and Fabrication Division Chief George Coble said directorates across the depot worked to reallocate resources and staff the upholstery shop with 36 employees who began production on May 1.

“As a result of our capabilities, we can adjust to changing requirements, and this is what we have done,” Coble said. “We can support the warfighter while pivoting to support the health care industry during this state of pandemic.”

Public-Private Partnerships allow the Army’s Organic Industrial Base facilities like Letterkenny Army Depot to manufacture or sell products or services to the private sector. However, such a partnership with the medical community is unprecedented, said Dale McClanahan, Letterkenny Army Depot’s chief of business development.

“This is not our normal course of business, but we are honored to be able to assist the local medical community,” said McClanahan.

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