Aerial transport and Department of Defense-wide capability for high-consequence infectious diseases

(a) In general Not later than September 30, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall establish, sustain, and resource a program to provide for the safe, long-range aerial transport of personnel of the Department of Defense known to be or suspected of being infected by a high-consequence infectious disease. (b) Aeromedical evacuation component of infectious disease response capability The program required under subsection (a) shall serve as the aeromedical evacuation component of a capability of the Department for high-consequence infectious disease response that supports independent military operations of the Department and integration with Federal, State, local, civilian, and academic partners. (c) Program requirements In establishing and sustaining the program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) develop and maintain curriculum and identify qualified instructors to train and certify military and civilian medical personnel on procedures associated with the safe, long-range aerial transport of patients with infectious diseases; (2) establish and periodically update medical care standards, infection prevention and control measures, and operational safety protocols necessary to maximize patient survival and minimize infection risk to aircrew, medical personnel, and support personnel; (3) serve as the joint force advocate and executive agent for aerial transport of personnel with high-consequence infectious diseases within the Department; (4) establish standards, sustainment requirements, and lifecycle management processes for personal protective equipment, transport isolation systems, and associated medical equipment used in transporting infected patients; (5) develop joint doctrine, concepts of operation, and medical force requirements necessary to support a Department-wide high-consequence infectious disease capability, including patient movement, definitive care, and integration across the continuum of care; (6) inform the organization, training, and equipping of specialized, organized teams capable of conducting high-consequence infectious disease patient movement and care in operational, austere, and strategic environments; (7) support interoperability and operational integration with Federal, State, local, civilian, and academic partners to enable coordinated response to tactical incidents, large-scale contingencies, and research activities related to emerging and future infectious disease threats; and (8) identify capability gaps and support research, development, testing, and evaluation of medical countermeasures, transport systems, protective equipment, and operational procedures necessary to improve survivability, safety, and mission effectiveness in high-consequence infectious disease operations. (d) Enterprise doctrine and oversight The Secretary shall develop and maintain doctrine and policy throughout the Department to guide the development, fielding, sustainment, and employment of high-consequence infectious disease response capabilities across the Department.