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Title:

Summary of Expert Insights for the US Department of Defense Biodefense Posture Review Meeting

Authors:

Matthew Walsh, Lane Warmbrod, Anita Cicero, Gigi Kwik Gronvall

Date posted:

June 09, 2022

Publication type:

Meeting report

Publisher:

The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

See also:

View meeting report (PDF)

Introduction:

On April 8, 2022, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health convened a virtual, not-for-attribution meeting to solicit expert input on the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) first Biodefense Posture Review (BPR). US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called for a comprehensive BPR in a November 2021 memo concerning the DoD’s biodefense vision. In the memo, Secretary Austin points out the critical roles DoD played in the COVID-19 response, both within the Department and as part of the broader whole-of-government response. After-action reviews of these vital contributions highlighted areas for improvement in DoD’s preparedness and response. Therefore, Secretary Austin directed a whole-of-department review to efficiently and robustly assess the DoD’s capabilities and modernize its strategies for biodefense.