The U.S. Navy Struggle with Face Mask Procurement During the Early Stage of the Novel COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 unveiled vulnerabilities in global healthcare supply chains, critically impacting the U.S. Navy’s operational readiness. This research thoroughly explores the factors leading to this shortage, emphasizing the distinct requirements and challenges faced by the U.S. Navy. Key focus areas include China’s pivotal role as a primary mask producer, procurement actions, and response to unforeseen demand spikes for masks. The research investigates how the centralization of mask production in China, along with its internal demand and export policies, significantly disrupted procurement processes and the ability to meet mask demands. Additionally, textile factories and other vendors, traditionally not aligned with medical mask production, needed to prepare for the sudden demand influx, amplifying the shortage. A cornerstone of this study is the incorporation of insights from stakeholder interviews. Key organizations, including DLA Troop Support, N95.org, and Resilinc, have provided invaluable perspectives on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to the broader narrative on pandemic readiness, specifically tailored to the U.S. Navy.