The JFO may be the primary Federal incident management field structure used to coordinate Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and private-sector businesses and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with primary responsibility for response and short-term recovery.

Personnel from Federal and State departments and agencies, other jurisdictional entities, and private-sector businesses and NGOs may be requested to staff various levels of the JFO, depending on the requirements of the incident.

JFOs are organized, staffed, and managed in a manner consistent with NIMS principles.