Professional Experience:
I have over 30 years of experience working in the areas of public health, animal health, international diplomacy, capacity building, and trade. Twelve years were with CDC and 13 with the U.S. Foreign Service. I have advanced skills and experience in public health, epidemiology, infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, diplomacy, and international trade; and I have been a leader, coordinator, manager, and educator in these areas throughout his career. I have been deployed on over 30 national and international emergencies, including the attacks of 9/11 and the anthrax attacks. In the latter, I coordinated the initial investigation that led to the discovery that B. anthracis was being dispersed in the USA through the postal system. I am fully qualified as an emergency responder for biological incidents; and, in responding to biological and health emergencies, I have six biological level 4 responses – requiring full containment and full protective personal equipment. I coordinated USDA activities on foot and mouth disease eradication for the Western Hemisphere from 2005 to 2009, initiated (with the Food and Agriculture Organization) the surveillance and control of FMD in Pakistan, and further developed import and export programs in Haiti – while expanding programs to feed children (in a country where one in three children goes hungry each day.) During this time, I also authored or co-authored of over 70 peer reviewed articles, eight book chapters, and 30 federal or international recommendations documents on infectious diseases and public policy. I have received over 40 awards for my service. Among them are: Federal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1999, PHS Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2005, and several leadership awards for my roles in the responses to the September 11 attack and the Anthrax attack of 2001-2002.