Evolution of Biodefense Policy

On Wednesday, October 10, 2018, Dr. Robert Kadlec joined the Robert Strauss Center and the Intelligence Studies Project for a presentation on the evolution of biodefense policy. As the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Kadlec leads national preparedness and response efforts for medical and public health emergencies. The talk was part of the Strauss Center’s Brumley Speaker Series and was co-sponsored by the Intelligence Studies Project. Select event photographs are found HERE. The audio recording is found HERE. See below to view the video.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Robert Kadlec is a distinguished national security official who spent more than 20 years as a career officer and physician in the United States Air Force before retiring as a Colonel. Over the course of his career, he has held senior positions in the White House, U.S. Senate and the Department of Defense. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Staff Director to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Dr. Kadlec previously served as staff director for Senator Richard Burr’s subcommittee on bioterrorism and public health in the 109th Congress. In that capacity, he was instrumental in drafting the Pandemic and All-Hazard Preparedness Bill which was signed into law to improve the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response capabilities for emergencies, whether deliberate, accidental or natural. 

Dr. Kadlec also served in the White House from 2002 to 2005 as director for biodefense on the Homeland Security Council staff, where he was responsible for conducting the biodefense end-to-end assessment, which culminated in drafting the National Biodefense Policy for the 21st Century. He served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for Biodefense Policy from 2007 to 2009. 

Earlier in his career, he served as the Special Advisor for Counterproliferation Policy at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he assisted DOD efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats in the wake of 9/11 and contributed to the FBI investigation of the anthrax letter attacks. He began his career as a flight surgeon for the 24th Special Tactics Squadron and as Special Assistant to the J-2 for Chemical and Biological Warfare at the Joint Special Operations Command. 

Dr. Kadlec holds a bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy, a doctorate of medicine and a master’s degree in tropical medicine and hygiene from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, as well as a master’s degree in national security studies from Georgetown University.