Gerald Parker, Jr.
Associate Dean for Global One Health Deans OfficeResearch and Scholarly Interests
- Global One Health, Pandemic Preparedness, and Public Policy
- Global & National Health Security andBiosecurity & Biodefence
- High-Consequence Emerging Infections Diseases
Education
- BS, Texas A&M University, 1976
- DVM, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, 1977
- PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Texas, 1990
- MS, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 2001
Major Awards
- U.S. Army Legion of Merit – 2000 and 2004
- Department of the Army Laboratory Excellence Award to USAMRIID while under my command - 2000 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award – 2009
- Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service – 2013
- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Senator Melcher Leadership in Public Policy Award – 2019
Biography
Dr. Parker has held technical to executive leadership positions throughout 36 years of public service at the federal level as a leader in biodefense, high consequence emerging infectious diseases, global health security, and all-hazards public health/medical preparedness. This included overseeing the coordination of federal medical/public health responses to Hurricanes Katrina thru Alex, to the 2009 Pandemic and Haiti earthquake. His service includes more than 26 years on active duty in the United States Army leading medical research and development programs and organizations, including command of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Parker held senior executive-level positions at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Defense (DOD); including serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at HHS, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense at DOD. Dr. Parker is currently the Associate Dean for Global One Health at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and in this role, he also serves as Campus Director for Global One Health at Texas A&M University and Director for the Pandemic & Biosecurity Policy Program at the Bush School of Government & Public Service.
- Global One Health
- Pandemic Preparedness
- Public Health Preparedness
- Biosecurity & Biodefence
- Public Policy & Strategic Operations
- Global & National Health Security
- High-Consequence Emerging Infections Diseases
- Oversight for Research & Development
- Executive Leadership
- Non-traditional Veterinary Careers
Dr. Parker's career evolved into executive leadership and oversight for research and development programs and organizations, biodefense, public health preparedness, high-consequence emerging infectious diseases, biosecurity, and global health security. His experience spans from the research bench to strategic operations and policy. Policy, programs, projects, and organizations were always, and remain grounded on a foundation of science and one health in practice. He has testified before the U.S. Congress while in government and since joining Texas A&M University. Publications are available upon request. Recent and relevant policy-related publications include:
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Andrew Natsios, Beth Cameron, and Gerald Parker, et al. Community Resilience, Centralized Leadership, & Multi-Sectoral Collaboration in Pandemic Preparedness. A Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs White Paper. https://issuu.com/tamuvetmed/docs/third_annual_scowcroft_white_paper
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Andrew Natsios, and Gerald Parker. Three reasons the U.S. is not ready for the next pandemic. August 20, 2018. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-the-us-is-not-ready-for-the-next-pandemic-100799
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Andrew Natsios, and Gerald Parker. Global Leadership at a Crossroads: Are We Prepared for the Next Pandemic? May 2018. A Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs White Paper. http://issuu.com/tamuvetmed/docs/2018pandemicwhitepaper?e=10250889/61709576
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Gerald Parker, and Morten Wendelbo. How the devastating 1918 pandemic helped advance U.S. women’s rights. March 1, 2018. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-the-devastating-1918-flu-pandemic-helped-advance-us-womens-rights-91045
- Morten Wendelbo and Gerald Parker. What the government shutdown means for the health of Americans. January 21, 2018. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-the-government-shutdown-means-for-the-health-of-americans-90430
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Morten Wendelbo, and Gerald Parker. Harvey and Irma present nearly perfect conditions for Zika-spreading mosquitoes. September 15, 2017. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/harvey-and-irma-present-nearly-perfect-conditions-for-zika-spreading-mosquitoes-83938
- Gerald W. Parker, Christine Crudo Blackburn and Andrew Natsios. The Growing Threat of Pandemics: Enhancing Domestic and International Biosecurity. A Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs White Paper. March 2017. http://bush.tamu.edu/scowcroft/white-papers
- Gerald W. Parker, Andrew Natsios and Christine Crudo Blackburn. How Trump’s Global Health budget endangers Americans. June 6, 2017. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-trumps-global-health-budget- endangers-americans-78171
- Christine Crudo Blackburn, Gerald Parker, and Andrew Natsios. Could the next black swan event be a pandemic? Global Development Monitor 2017: A report of the CSIS Project on U.S. Leadership in Development. Page 34-37, November 2017.