Carson City August 03, 2021
Glenn Witt, vaccine manager with the Department of Health and Human Services, has been selected as the June 2021 Nevada Employee Veteran of the Month for his outstanding contributions and service to the State of Nevada.
Witt’s military service began at age 19 and spanned 20 years. Most notably he served in the 5th and 10th Special Forces Groups. Moving up in ranks in Army Military Team Intelligence, he became interested the People’s Health Services program and enrolled in medical school. With that training he developed, managed and executed vaccinations for the men and women with whom he served.
Much of his time in the military was spent on vaccine distribution efforts for third-world counties where he was stationed. As a senior operations manager he developed medical programs in Iraq and Afghanistan, which included providing convoy security as well as medical records for Special Forces. The complicated task of vaccinating service animals in foreign countries is one of his fondest memories. Witt became a senior instructor in ROTC for Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, before retiring in 1997. His understanding of logistics, timing and deployment continue to serve him well with the Nevada State Immunization Program (NSIP) as the team has worked together for the COVID-19 vaccination response.
He has been employed with the State of Nevada since September 2014 as NSIP’s vaccine manager. In this role he oversees vaccine inventory and distribution for childhood and adult immunizations across statewide programs. Witt and his team have been instrumental in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution program. His years of experience and knowledge of distributing lifesaving medicines via air and land have been invaluable to the State — especially during the COVID pandemic.
“I do what I do because I am a strong believer in vaccines,” Witt said. “I have seen firsthand what diseases can do to the population in countries where I served. I know the work of supplying vaccines to immunizing providers saves lives, and I encourage Nevadans to get their COVID vaccine to save even more lives."
The NSIP works with Nevada's local health departments, hospitals, schools and clinics to facilitate both routine vaccination and pandemic response, as needed. Its focus is ensuring equitable vaccine access across Nevada's population.
“Working with Glenn is a true honor,” NSIP manager Shannon Bennett said. “He has worked tirelessly to make vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, accessible to all Nevadans. His stellar work ethic and calm, steady demeanor have improved the lives of Nevadans.”
The Employee Veteran of the Month award initiative was launched in January 2021 by the Nevada Department of Administration to recognize State employees who have served in the U.S. armed forces.