Board of Directors, Board Chair
Dr. Parker is the Associate Dean for Global One Health at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and Director of the Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program at the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs within the Bush School of Government & Public Services.Prior to his appointment to Texas A&M University, Dr. Parker held technical and leadership positions throughout 36 years of public service as a recognized defense and civilian interagency leader in biodefense, high consequence emerging infectious diseases, global health security, and all-hazards public health/medical preparedness. This included coordinating federal health responses to Hurricanes Katrina and the 2009 Pandemic and Haiti earthquake. Dr. Parker’s service includes more than 26 years on active duty leading medical research and development programs and organizations. He is a former Commander and Deputy Commander at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Parker held senior executive level positions at Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Defense.
Dr. Parker is a 2009 recipient of the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service in 2013 and the Senator Melcher Leadership in Public Policy Award from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges in 2019.
Dr. Parker graduated from Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.Â
