JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
As COVID-19 hit the world by storm in 2020, 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Capt. Alexander Godwin, 87th Medical Group chief of pharmacy services, was on the frontlines prepared to bear the incoming pandemic.
Godwin serves as one of the leading minds tackling the COVID-19 operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
“I was able to play a large role in the planning and organization of COVID-19 operations on JB MDL,” said Godwin. “As far as leadership goes, it was a large period of growth for me.”
Born in Baltimore, Godwin was one of seven children in a blended family.
“We were a little untraditional,” said Godwin. “My father was in construction and my mother was homeschooling seven kids. They were both hard workers.”
Godwin has carried on his parents’ hard-work ethics into his education and career.
“Sixteen was one of the busiest years of my life,” Godwin said. “On top of school and working as a pharmacy technician, as well as at a construction company, I was also in the Civil Air Patrol. That was sort of where I considered the military as a career. At 22 I earned my Doctorate, and shortly after went to Total Force Officer Training. From there, I came to JB MDL.”
Godwin attributes his success to mentors. One of his mentors is U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua Stallings, 87th Medical Support Squadron diagnostics and therapeutics flight commander.
“Capt. Godwin is a sharp young officer with a keen eye for efficiency and process improvement,” said Stallings. “He had an especially non-traditional introduction to the Air Force as a pharmacy officer.”
Beginning in the spring of 2020, Godwin led the team that developed the mass-screening and testing protocol, along with the flow for care and support, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As someone who graduated high school, college, and pharmacy school at an unusually young age, while working a job in construction to support himself through school, Capt. Godwin is no stranger when it comes to hard work,” said Stallings. “He brings this work ethic to his role here at the 87th Medical Group, ensuring that every plan we develop is structurally sound and purpose-built to support the missions we are here to execute.”
On top of the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Godwin worked in the planning and distribution of the vaccine.
“Prior to getting our first shipment of vaccines, we had tabletop planning exercises,” Godwin said. “Within three hours of receiving the vaccine, we were already administering it to patients.”
As Godwin continues to work at the 87th MDG pharmacy and with the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, he remains grateful for the opportunities that have been given to him.
“I love the idea of being able to make people's lives better,” said Godwin. “That's what you're doing with medication management, with counseling, and with giving the vaccine; you're either prolonging their life or raising the quality of their life.”