Tara O'Toole
Encyclopedia
Tara O’Toole is the Under Secretary
of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.
at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
. Concurrently, she was a Professor of Medicine and of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh
.
From 2006 to 2007, she chaired the board of the Federation of American Scientists
. In 2006, she was appointed to the board of the Google Foundation’s International Networked System for Total Early Disease Detection. From 2001 to 2003, she directed the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies. From 1993 to 1997, she served as the Assistant Secretary
for Environment Safety and Health in the Department of Energy. From 1984 to 1988, she practiced general internal medicine in community health centers in Baltimore
.
(2001) and Atlantic Storm
(2005), both of which simulated a covert outbreak of smallpox in the United States. Many experts applauded these exercises for publicizing the country’s surprising vulnerabilities, including a vaccine shortage. Critics charged that these exercises exaggerated the bioterror threat, leading to an unnecessary increase in the number of research labs.
In her nomination hearing, O’Toole said that this controversy stemmed from her estimated “secondary transmission rate”; that is, the number of smallpox infections caused as a result of the initial infections. O’Toole claimed that her rate of 10 derived from “the available empirical data” and coincided with data from a 2001 article in the peer-reviewed journal, Nature.
, an MD from George Washington University
, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University
.
Under Secretary
-In the United Kingdom:*Under-secretary*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State*Under-Secretary of State for India*Under-Secretary of State for Scotland*Under-Secretary for Ireland*Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies*Under-Secretary of State for War...
of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.
Background
Prior to her confirmation as Under Secretary (November 4, 2009), O’Toole founded, and served as chief executive officer and director of, the Center for BiosecurityCenter for Biosecurity
The Center for Biosecurity is an independent, nonprofit organization of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center that is dedicated to improving the country’s resilience to major biological threats.-Mission statement:...
at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is an $9 billion integrated global nonprofit health enterprise that has 54,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 4,200 licensed beds, 400 outpatient sites and doctors’ offices, a 1.5 million-member health insurance division, as well as commercial and...
. Concurrently, she was a Professor of Medicine and of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
From 2006 to 2007, she chaired the board of the Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
The Federation of American Scientists is a nonpartisan, 501 organization intent on using science and scientific analysis to attempt make the world more secure. FAS was founded in 1945 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project to develop the first atomic bombs...
. In 2006, she was appointed to the board of the Google Foundation’s International Networked System for Total Early Disease Detection. From 2001 to 2003, she directed the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies. From 1993 to 1997, she served as the Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary is a grade in the British Civil Service, now more commonly styled Divisional Manager or Deputy Director. In the grading scheme they are denoted Grade 5....
for Environment Safety and Health in the Department of Energy. From 1984 to 1988, she practiced general internal medicine in community health centers in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
Disaster response exercises
O’Toole is best known for her disaster response exercises. She was a principal author and producer of Dark WinterOperation Dark Winter
Operation Dark Winter was the code name for a senior-level bio-terrorist attack simulation conducted from June 22–23, 2001. It was designed to carry out a mock version of a covert and widespread smallpox attack on the United States...
(2001) and Atlantic Storm
Atlantic Storm
Atlantic Storm was a ministerial exercise simulating the top-level response to a bioterror incident. The simulation operated on January 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. and was created in part to reveal the current international state of preparedness and possible political and public health issues that...
(2005), both of which simulated a covert outbreak of smallpox in the United States. Many experts applauded these exercises for publicizing the country’s surprising vulnerabilities, including a vaccine shortage. Critics charged that these exercises exaggerated the bioterror threat, leading to an unnecessary increase in the number of research labs.
In her nomination hearing, O’Toole said that this controversy stemmed from her estimated “secondary transmission rate”; that is, the number of smallpox infections caused as a result of the initial infections. O’Toole claimed that her rate of 10 derived from “the available empirical data” and coincided with data from a 2001 article in the peer-reviewed journal, Nature.
Education
O’Toole holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar CollegeVassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, an MD from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.