Keynote Speakers

Colonel Randall Larsen (Ret.), Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center

Colonel Randall J. Larsen, USAF (Ret.), became the executive director of the Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism in April 2009. The commission, led by former Senators Bob Graham (D-FL) and Jim Talent (R-MO), issued its final report in January 2010. Senators, Graham, Talent and Col Larsen recently formed the Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center.

Gerald W. Parker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Gerald W. Parker is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office coordinates and leads HHS-wide efforts with respect to preparedness for and response to public health and medical emergencies, and serves as the focal point for operational and policy coordination with the White House, other federal departments, agencies, Congress, state and local officials, international authorities, and private sector leaders responsible for emergency medical preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of terrorism and other public health emergencies.

Michael J. Fischer, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Maryland Department of Transportation

Michael J. Fischer has also concurrently served as the Acting Director of Security for the Port of Baltimore. Mr. Fischer recently retired from the Maryland State Police, as a Lt. Colonel and Chief of Operations, where he served for 27 ½ years.

C. Randal (Randy) Mullett, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Con-way Inc.

As the company’s senior policy manager and executive representative in Washington, D.C., Mr. Mullett is responsible for all government relations and public affairs activities for Con-way and its subsidiaries at the federal, state and local levels. He oversees the company’s relationships with various state and national trade associations and serves as Con-way’s lead advocate on homeland security, transportation policy and other legislative and regulatory issues important to the enterprise and its employees. He also heads up the company’s formalized program with respect to adoption of sustainable business practices across the enterprise and in freight transportation.

Michael D. Luke, DAFC, Command Agreements Manager, Mortuary Affairs Officer, Logistics Planning,NORAD-USNORTHCOM

Mr. Michael D. Luke is the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Mortuary Affairs Officer and Joint Logistics planner for the Logistics and Engineering Directorate. Mike served for 21 years in the US Air Force primarily in logistics planning and operations. Mike holds a Master’s Degree in Business Organizational Management from La Vern University, CA and is pursuing a second Masters in Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Alabama. He is also a trained DOD Mortuary Affairs Officer.

Dr. David McWhorter, Principal, Catalyst Partners, LLC

Dr. David McWhorter spent over seven years at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). In this position he led the technical evaluations of anti-terrorism products and services across a broad spectrum of countermeasures for chemical, biological, explosive, nuclear, cyber and human threats. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the SAFETY Act including orchestrating the creation of the evaluation process, the drafting of the application kits, the coordination of several government procurements, and the identification of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

Dr. Joseph Tricarico, Jr.

Dr. Joseph Tricarico, Jr. is an Assistant Commissioner with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services managing the Health Infrastructure Preparedness Bureau. He is responsible for and oversees the Office of Emergency Medical Services, Office of Public Health Infrastructure, and the state’s nine medical coordination centers.

Jeff Robertson, Strategic Communications Specialist, Former Assistant Commissioner of CBP for Public Affairs

His professional life has focused on challenges in maritime and border security arenas. He has more than 25 years of experience with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, serving in public affairs, operations, and intelligence roles.

'Rapid detection and diagnosis capabilities are the first links in the chain, followed by: providing actionable information to federal, state, and local leaders and the general public; having adequate supplies of appropriate medical countermeasures; quickly distributing those countermeasures; treating and isolating the sick in medical facilities; protecting the well through vaccines and prophylactic medications; and in certain cases, such as anthrax, environmental cleanup. The United States is seriously lacking in each of these vital capabilities.'

'The estimated cost of developing the medical countermeasures required to meet the threats identified by the Department of Homeland Security is $3.4 billion a year for the next five years. Appropriation for FY 2010 is less than one tenth of that. In addition, there have been several attempts by the Administration and Congress to "raid" the BioShield Strategic Reserve Fund for programs not associated with national security.'

'There are too many agencies at the federal, state, and local levels that regulate pathogens, in sometimes conflicting ways.'

'As demonstrated during the recent H1N1 pandemic, domestic disease surveillance has been inadequate. The United States does not have the diagnostic testing capabilities required, and has a fragmented surveillance network.'

- Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism Report Card

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