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.

Prior to joining the Department of Health and Human Services in July 2005, Dr. Parker already had over 28 years of distinguished public service. This included service at the Department of Homeland Security from April 2004 to July 2005, and active U.S. Army service as a researcher, teacher, team leader, division director, program director and laboratory commander from 1977 to 2004.

During his career, Dr. Parker held a variety of positions including Assistant Deputy for Research and Development, Director for the Medical Chemical and Biological Defense Research Program, and Deputy Director for the Combat Casualty Research Program at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Dr. Parker is also a former Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Parker graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Medicine and with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He holds a Doctorate in Physiology from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and a Masters of Science in Resourcing the National Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Dr. Parker is married to the former Denise Joy Sonnen, and they have three sons, Jamison Parker (21), Jeramie Parker (19), and Jonathon Parker (16). They reside in Middletown, Maryland.

Keynote Speakers

Col. Randall Larsen (Ret. USAF), Former Executive Director of the Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism

Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Former Chief Medical Officer, DHS

Robert Hooks, Deputy Assistant Secretary for WMD and Biodefense, Office of Health Affairs

Guest Speakers

Penny J. Hitchcock, D.V.M., M.S., Chief Scientist, Chemical and Biological Early Detection (BioWatch), Systems Program Office, Tauri Group

Tina Gabbrielli, Director of the Office of Risk Management and Analysis, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Peter Jutro, Deputy Director for Science and Policy, National Homeland Security Research Center, EPA

Daniel Marc Sosin, MD, MPH, FACP, Acting Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, CDC

Pietro D. Marghella, Former Director of Medical Contingency Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Joanne Cox, Deputy Chief, Emergency Risk Communication Branch, CDC

Dr. Brian Flynn, Former Assistant Surgeon General, US Public Health Service

Dave Gruber, Deputy Commissioner of Health (Preparedness and Response), State of New Jersey

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

John H. Bridges III, Former Incident Commander for Anthrax Response and Mitigation, US Postal Service, 2001 to 2004

Glen D. Gilmore, Responded to anthrax attack as Former Mayor of Hamilton Township, New Jersey

Gary Cecchine, Ph.D., Biology/Public Policy, Natural Scientist, RAND

Jeff Robertson, Former Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Dr. William J. Parker III, Biodefense and Critical Infrastructure Expert

Thomas R. Austin, Ph.D., Manager CBRNE Countermeasures Programs, The Boeing Company

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

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

Margaret Jo Velardo, PhD, Director of Research, Homeland Security Institute

Dr. David McWhorter,
Principal, Catalyst Parners, LLC

Jennifer Nuzzo, Associate, UPMC Center for Bio-Security

Arthur L. Kellermann, MD, MPH, Senior Principal Researcher, Paul O'Neill-Alcoa Chair in Policy Analysis, RAND Corporation

Dr. Thomas K. Zink, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Institute for Biosecurity, Saint Louis University

Dr. Joseph Tricarico, Jr., Esq., Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

Richard Cooper, Chairman, Homeland Security Division, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)

Anthony S. Mangeri, MPA, CPM, Assistant Professor School of Public Safety & Health American Military University

M. Allen Northrup, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Microfluidic Systems

Tim Tinker, MPH, DrPH, Senior Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton

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