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The CDC Director

 Richard Besser, MD

Richard Besser, MD, took the helm as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and acting administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on January 22, 2009.

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Executive Leadership Board (ELB)

ELB

The Executive Leadership Board is accountable for formulating CDC′s vision and determining its strategic directions. The ELB decides the standards and policies that reflect CDC&primes core values, further its scientific foundation, protect its credibility, and advance its mission.

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The CDC Leaders

CDC′s four primary leadership groups are: Executive Leadership Board (ELB), Management Council (MC), Center Leadership Council (CLC), and the Division Director&primes Council and Steering Committee (DDC and DDSC). Each group contributes to CDC′s system of networked governance of the agency′s overall direction.

Ileana Arias, PhD

Ileana Arias, PhD


Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Ileana Arias, PhD, became director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in July 2005. She sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma; the Review of Aggression and Violent Behavior; and Violence and Victims.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Lynn Austin, PhD

Lynn Austin, PhD


Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response
Dr. Austin has been with the federal government for over 32 years, including experience at EPA and OSHA and has been at CDC since 1988. With CDC, she has served as the Chief of Staff to the CDC Director from 2005 to 2008, where she managed day-to-day operations of the Director’s inner office.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS

Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS


Chief, Office of Public Health Practice
Stephanie B. Coursey Bailey, MD, MS, began her appointment as CDC′s chief in the Office of Public Health Practice in October 2006. Though this is her first position at CDC, Dr. Coursey Bailey shares a history of affiliations with CDC beginning in 1999.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, MPH

Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, MPH


Director, National Center for Health Marketing
Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, MPH, became director of the National Center for Health Marketing in August 2005. He is passionate about mentoring students and was an original founder of the National Public Health Student Caucus of the American Public Health Association (APHA), now the Student Assembly of APHA.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Richard E. Besser, MD

Richard E. Besser, MD


Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Acting Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Richard Besser, MD, took the helm as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and acting administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on January 22, 2009.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Stephen B. Blount, MD, MPH

Stephen B. Blount, MD, MPH


Director, Coordinating Office for Global Health
Stephen Blount, MD, MPH, became director of the Office for Global Health in 1997. As part of an agency-wide transformation began in 2003, he has led the reorganization of his office′s international activities.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Christine M. Branche

Christine M. Branche, PhD


Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Christine M. Branche, PhD, is the Acting Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Dr. Branche began her career at CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in the Division of Injury Epidemiology and Control.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Burma Burch, MSA, BBA

Burma Burch, MSA, BBA


Associate Director for Management, Office of the Director
Ms. Burch began her CDC career in 1978 working in personnel management. She then worked in the immunization program where she learned to appreciate the dynamics and power of communities, participated in the effort to eradicate smallpox, and addressed many issues associated with the emergence of Legionnaires′ disease.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Deborah Birx, MD

Deborah Birx, MD

Director, Global AIDS Program
Deborah Birx, MD, is a renowned national and international expert in the field of HIV/AIDS. Since 2006, Doctor Birx has served as the Director of the CDC′s Global AIDS Program which implements integrated HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support programs and services and works with Ministries of Health to develop sustainable public health systems. » Read the full biographical sketch.
Gilbert Camacho, MS

Gilbert Camacho, MS


Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity
Gilbert Camacho, MS, is director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. His appointment, which began October 2005, is his first position at CDC.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Galen P. Carver, MS, PE

Galen P. Carver, MS, PE


Director, Atlanta Human Resources Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Galen Carver is responsible for providing strategic and operational direction to ensure effective human resources services for the CDC and ATSDR. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Carver was responsible for business and management innovations within the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. Prior to joining CDC, he was a civilian with the Department of the Navy for 23 years.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Mitchell L. Cohen, MD

Rear Admiral Mitchell L. Cohen, MD, USPHS


Director, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Assistant Surgeon General
In 2004, Mitchell L. Cohen, MD, became director of the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. He is a fellow in the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Academy of Microbiology.
» Read the full biographical sketch.

Janet Collins, PhD


Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
In July 2005, Janet Collins, PhD, was named director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Most recently, she had served as acting director of the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Carlton Duncan, MSPH

Carlton Duncan, MSPH


Deputy, Chief Operating Officer
As Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Carlton Duncan provides leadership and guidance in management and operations to CDC′s coordinating centers, institutes and offices, specifically in the areas of security, alternative dispute resolution, facilities, equal employment opportunities, ethics, and human resources issues. One of his top priorities is to work closely with management officials to make sure that the organizational transitions go as smoothly as possible.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Henry Falk, MD, MPH

Henry Falk, MD, MPH (RADM, USPHS)


Director, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention
Henry Falk, MD, MPH, serves as the director of the Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention. A 30-year veteran of the US Public Health Service, Dr. Falk′s service culminated with his promotion to rear admiral and an appointment as Assistant US Surgeon General.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Nicholas Farrell, BS

Nicholas Farrell, BS


Acting, Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Office for Global Health
Nick Farrell is the acting Chief Management Officer (CMO) for the Coordinating Office for Global Health (COGH) where he focuses his energies on improving global business services to support CDC′s overseas offices and international programs.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD

Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD


Director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Kevin Fenton, MD, PhD, serves as the director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), a position he has held since November 2005.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Howard Frumkin, MD, MPH, DrPH

Howard Frumkin, MD, MPH, DrPH


Director, National Center for Environmental Health, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
On September 2005, Howard Frumkin, MD, MPH, DrPh, was appointed director of the National Center for Environmental Health, ATSDR. He is also an internist, environmental and occupational medicine specialist, and epidemiologist.
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Louise Galaska

Louise Galaska


Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention
Louise Galaska is responsible for improving business services, practices, and systems through effective and efficient strategic thinking, critical analysis, resource and performance management, change leadership, policy development, communications and coalition building.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Donna Garland

Donna Garland


Director, Office of Enterprise Communication
Donna Garland serves as the first director of CDC′s Office of Enterprise Communication. Since January 2005, she has assumed responsibility for the development and functioning of the office, which became an officially recognized function in September 2005.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Barbara Harris

Barbara Harris, CPA


Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer for CDC, Harris helps to ensure that the agency exhibits the highest degree of financial integrity and fiscal stewardship of the public funds entrusted to it. She joined CDC as a Management Analyst with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in 1988.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Walter Harris

Walter Harris, MBA


Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Center for Health Information Service
Walter Harris began his position as the Chief Management Officer for the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service (CCHIS) in February 2008. He brings with him more than 20 years of leadership experience in the private sector and in the federal government in managing healthcare management, information technology (IT), and organizational development for large and small organizations.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson


Acting Chief of Staff, Office of the Director
As the acting chief of staff for CDC, Joe Henderson is responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the Office of the Director. He helps resolve issues that cross organizational lines, determine policy and program objectives, coordinate decision-making processes, and maintain a focus on the highest priority initiatives.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Ed Hunter

Ed Hunter


Acting Director, CDC - Washington
Ed Hunter represents CDC in Washington before HHS, other Administration officials, and non-governmental entities. He also directs and oversees CDC′s legislative strategy.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Judy Kenny, MS, MPA

Judy Kenny, MS, MPA


Director, Information Technology Services Office
As director of CDC′s Information Technology Services Office (ITSO), Judy Kenny oversees IT infrastructure. She came to CDC in 1971 as a clerk stenographer in the Immunization Program. A few years later, she accepted a position as a computer trainee.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Rima Khabbaz, MD

Rima Khabbaz, MD


Director, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases
Rima Khabbaz, MD, serves as the director for the National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID). She is also a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Emory University and is board-certified in internal medicine.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Muin J. Khoury, MD, PhD

Muin J. Khoury, MD, PhD


Director, National Office of Public Health Genomics
Muin J. Khoury, MD, PhD, is the founding director of the CDC′s National Office of Public Health Genomics, formed in 1997. The office is responsible for assessing the impact of the advances in human genetics and the Human Genome Project on public health and disease prevention.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Lonnie King, DVM

Lonnie King, DVM


Director, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases
Lonnie King , DVM, is the agency′s senior veterinarian and the director of the newly formed National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED). ZVED provides leadership, expertise and service in laboratory and epidemiological science, bioterrorism preparedness, applied research, disease surveillance and outbreak response for infectious diseases.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Alan A. Kotch, MBA

Alan A. Kotch, MBA


Director, Procurement and Grants Office
Mr. Kotch began his career at CDC in June 2002 as a team leader in PGO. Recently, he has been involved in the business process re-engineering of PGO, which began in 2004. These efforts included reorganizing the structure of PGO to be better aligned with their customers, and implementing a knowledge management tool through the PGO Intranet website.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Crayton Lankford, MBA

Crayton Lankford, MBA


Acting Director, Financial Management Office
Prior to becoming the Acting Director of the Financial Management Office, Lankford was detailed to the position of Deputy Chief Operating Officer. Before that, he served as Chief Management Officer (CMO) for the Coordinating Center for Global Health (COGH) where he focused his energies on improving global business services to support CDC′s overseas offices and international programs.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Leslie Lenert, MD, MS

Leslie Lenert, MD, MS


Director of the National Center for Public Health Informatics
Prior to this appointment, he served as Director for the Health Services Research and Development section of the Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Staff Physician at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Associate Director of Medical Informatics at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (CalIT 2).
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Ruth Martin

Ruth Martin


Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion
Ruth Martin serves as the Chief Management Officer (CMO) for CDC′s Coordinating Center for Health Promotion (CCHP). In this role, she is responsible for CoCHP′s business operations, including human resources, budget, finance, information technology, health and safety, procurement, facilities and administrative services.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Reginald R. Mebane, MS

Reginald R. Mebane, MS


Chief Management Officer, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases
As Chief Management Officer for the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases since February 2005, Reginald Mebane has direct authority for business operations, including human capital, information technology, grants, facilities, administrative services.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
James A. Nelson, PhD

James A. Nelson, PhD


Chief Diversity Officer, Office of the Chief Diversity Officer
James A. Nelson, Sr., Ph.D., was appointed Chief Diversity Officer on October 1, 2007. Dr. Nelson has achieved a distinguished career in the field of Diversity Education and Training and Development. He received a Master of Science degree in Management from Central Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Ohio University.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Bill Nichols, MPA

Bill Nichols, MPA


Interim Deputy Director for Management and Budget
Acting Chief Operating Officer

Bill Nichols serves as CDC′s senior management official, responsible for improving business services, practices, and systems through effective and efficient strategic thinking, critical analysis, resource and performance management, change leadership, business policy development, communications, and customer relations management.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Bradley Perkins, MD, MBA

Bradley Perkins, MD, MBA (CAPT, USPHS)


Chief, Office of Strategy and Innovation
Bradley A. Perkins, MD, MBA, is CDC′s Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, and Chief, Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI), Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
» Read the full biographical sketch
Tanja Popovic, MD, PhD

Tanja Popovic, MD, PhD, F(AAM), AM(AAFS)


Chief Science Officer
Tanja Popovic, MD, PhD, serves as CDC′s chief science officer. She is also an associate editor for Emerging Infectious Diseases, a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and associate member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
William T. (Bill) Porter, JD

William T. (Bill) Porter, JD


Director, Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness
As the director of the Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness, William Porter′s responsibilities include "safeguarding the science" and those who conduct it by providing the CDC with the professional protection necessary in a post “9/11” world. Mr. Porter came to CDC in November 1979 as the chief of Real Property and Space Management.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Dr. Martin Sanders

Dr. Martin Sanders, PhD, RBP, CBSP


Acting Director of the Office of Health and Safety
Dr. Martin Sanders, PhD, RBP, CBSP, is the Acting Director of the Office of Health and Safety for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this capacity he is heavily involved in biosafety and biosecurity issues nationally and internationally and has traveled to numerous countries in support of biosafety and biosecurity activities.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Anne Schuchat, MD (RADM, USPHS)

Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, MD (RADM, USPHS)


Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program
As the Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program, Schuchat provides leadership and guidance on high impact/high vulnerability science and program issues affecting CDC.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Jim Seligman, MS

Jim Seligman, MS


Chief Information Officer
As Chief Information Officer since June 1999, James Seligman provides leadership for the agency′s overall information technology program, including IT architecture; IT capital investment management, policy and standards development; information security; IT workforce development; and other enterprise activities.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Katie Shebesh

Katie Shebesh


Chief Management Officer for the Office of the Director
Katie Shebesh has served as the chief management officer (CMO) for the Office of the Director since October 2006. Previously, as CMO for the Coordinating Center for Health Information Service, she was responsible for improving business services, practices, and systems for three national centers—the National Center for Health Marketing, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the National Center for Public Health Informatics.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Donald Shriber, JD, MPH

Donald Shriber, JD, MPH


Interim Deputy Director for Policy, Legislation and Communication
Katie Shebesh currently serves as the Chief Management Officer (CMO) for the Office of the Director. Previously, as CMO for the Coordinating Center for Health Information Service, she was responsible for improving business services, practices, and systems for three national centers—the National Center for Health Marketing, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the National Center for Public Health Informatics.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Steven L. Solomon, MD

Rear Admiral Steven L. Solomon, MD


Director, Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service, Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
Steven L. Solomon, MD, has served as the director of the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service since September 2005. He also has a clinical appointment at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Edward J. Sondik, PhD

Edward J. Sondik, PhD


Director, National Center for Health Statistics
Edward J. Sondik, PhD, came to CDC in 1997, when he began his appointment as the director of the National Center for Health Statistics. His center conducts a number of nationwide surveys that provide information on health status and on the healthcare system.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Ed Sontag, EdD

Ed Sontag, EdD


Senior Advisor to the Director, Office of the Director
As Senior Advisor for Global Affairs, Ed Sontag, EdD, is reviewing current programs CDC-wide, exploring opportunities worldwide, and providing evaluations and recommendations to CDC leadership on achieving global health goals, global health preparedness, and global emergency response activities.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Daniel Marc Sosin

Daniel Marc Sosin, MD, MPH, FACP

Acting Director, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response
Ed Sontag, serves as the acting Chief Management Officer for OWCD. Prior to this position he was Special Advisor to the Director, Centers for Disease Control an Prevention (CDC) working with globalization activities among CDC, Health & Human Services (HHS), and other key partners on the globalization effort.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Stephen B. Thacker, MD, MSc

Stephen B. Thacker, MD, MSc


Director, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Assistant Surgeon General (Ret.), USPHS
Stephen B. Thacker, MD, MSc, serves as director of the Office of Workforce and Career Development (OWCD), a position he has held since June 2004. He is a retired commissioned officer in the US Public Health Service and currently holds the grade of Assistant Surgeon General (Rear Admiral, Upper Half).
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH

Kathleen E. Toomey, MD, MPH


Director, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion
Kathleen Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., serves as the director of the Coordinating Center for Health Promotion and is responsible for the management of the coordinating center that comprises the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (including the National Office of Public Health Genomics) and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
» Read the full biographical sketch.
Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH

Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH


Director, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH, returns to CDC as director of NCBDDD in July 2007. Prior to this, Dr. Trevathan served as a professor of neurology and pediatrics and director of the Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology at Washington University/St. Louis School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He also served as the Neurologist-in-Chief at St. Louis Children′s Hospital.
» Read the full biographical sketch.

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