Tara O’Toole to lead DHS’ science and technology directorate
by Ted Purlain on November 7, 2009
Tara O’Toole
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate confirmed Tara O’Toole to be undersecretary of the science and technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security on Nov. 5.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., applauded the confirmation. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee reported her out of Committee on July 29.
“Dr. O’Toole is assuming her role at a critical time, as the H1N1 flu pandemic is spreading across the nation at an alarming rate,” Lieberman said. “Dr. O’Toole brings a remarkable breadth of experience to this job that is so crucial to our nation’s security.”
Before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee reported her out of committee on July 29, O’Toole was the CEO and director of the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC, and a Professor of Medicine and of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. The Center for Biosecurity of UPMC is an independent organization dedicated to improving the country’s resilience to major biological threats.
She is internationally known for her work on biosecurity and on health and safety issues related to the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Her publications in the biodefense field include articles on the response to anthrax, smallpox and plague biological attacks; containment of contagious disease epidemics; biodefense research and development strategies; and hospital preparedness.
Prior to founding the UPMC Center in 2003, O’Toole was one of the original members of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies and served as its director from 2001 to 2003.
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