News release from the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce:
Bryan/College Station, Texas — “We are excited to announce today that Gerald W. Parker, Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., M.S. Vice President Public Health Preparedness and Response Principal Investigator Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) has agreed to speak at our Annual Banquet on November 3rd at the College Station Hilton, “said Royce Hickman, President & CEO of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce. “The work being done at the CIADM and by the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response are some of the most critical issues we currently face as a nation and both could have a great impact on our twin cities for years to come.”
Dr. Gerald Parker joined the Texas A&M Health Science Center in November 2013 as Vice President for Public Health Preparedness and Response, and Principal Investigator for the Texas A&M Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designed to enhance the nation’s emergency preparedness against emerging infectious diseases, including pandemic influenza, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
Rich White, Unit Director, HEB and Chairman of the Board for the B/CS Chamber of Commerce stated, “It seems like only yesterday our local media was covering the dedication of the new CIADM building and today the facility and the related concerns about influenza and Ebola issues are gracing the front pages of newspapers across the country. The work being done by the University and local companies in Bryan/College Station have pinned our Bio-corridor firmly on the national map.”
Prior to his appointment to the Health Science Center, Dr. Parker served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense and was responsible for Chemical and Biological Defense Program oversight throughout the Department of Defense and integration with interagency and international partners. He previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), a position he assumed in 2005.
In this role, Dr. Parker provided leadership in coordinating DHHS-wide efforts with respect to preparedness for and response to public health and medical emergencies, and served as a focal point for operational and policy coordination with the White House, other federal departments, Congress, state and local officials, private sector leaders, and international authorities responsible for emergency medical preparedness and the protection of the civilian population from acts of terrorism and other public health emergencies. Dr. Parker also served at the Department of Homeland Security from April 2004 to July 2005 and was a 2009 recipient of the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award.
Prior to his selection into the Senior Executive Service in April 2004, Dr. Parker had 26 years of distinguished active U.S. Army service as a researcher, team leader, division director, program director, and laboratory Commander from 1977 to 2004. During his military 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. He is a former Commander and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Parker graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine in 1976 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine the following year. He holds a Doctorate in Physiology from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a Master of Science in Resourcing the National Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and Master of Science in Resourcing the National Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.