"Biologic Threats facing the U.S.

RADM Bernard was the senior White House official responsible for biodefence policy in two presidential administrations. He will give an overview of the biologic threats facing America from natural, accidental and intentional causes. With a background in infectious disease from CDC, he will outline the threats and our defense—illustrated with examples and stories, from smallpox to COVID (including the Anthrax attacks in 2001, Ebola in 2014, etc.)—that are at the intersection of public health, politics and national security. This its an international issue, little understood and under appreciated. The subject is disconcerting and alarming. It will be sobering.

Rear Admiral Bernard (USPHS, Ret.) served in the George W. Bush White House as Special Asst. for Homeland Security and Asst. Surgeon General. He was the senior official in charge of biodefense policy. Prior to that the Admiral was Senior Advisor for Security and Health on President Clinton’s National Security Council Staff, and Senior Political Advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization. He currently is a consultant and advisor to a number of U.S. Government agencies and private sector companies on issues of biodefense, intelligence, pandemic preparedness and response, health security and health diplomacy. He began his career as an epidemiologist and disease detective at the Centers For Disease Control, and is currently a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity and the Defense Science Board Permanent Subcommittee on Threats. Bernard did his undergrad at UC Berkeley, obtained his M.D. at the U. of Cal Davis, and his DTM&H degree from the University of London.