EDUCATION

Ph.D. Entomology (Medical), Oklahoma State University, 1987

M.S. Entomology (Veterinary), Oklahoma State University, 1985

M.M.S. Military Studies, U.S. Marine Corps University, 1995

B.S. Animal Science, Texas Tech University, 1982

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Arthropod vector-borne zoonoses

Emerging and resurgent infectious diseases

Biological threats in the environment

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. 01 September 2014 – present.

• Director, Biological Threat Research Laboratory/Bioterrorism Response Laboratory, The Institute of Environmental
  and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.  08 August 2012 – present.
• Research Coordinator, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX. 
  10 June 2002 – present.

 

Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.  10 June 2002 – present.

 

Medical Service Corps Officer, United States Navy. Specialty designators as Medical Entomologist (2300) and as Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence Officer (1806). Military duty assignments included:

• United States Navy Disease Vector Ecology and Control Center (NDVECC), Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, FL. 
  July 1999 – June 2002.
• United States Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC), Quantico, VA.  July 1996 – June 1999.
• United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA.
  July 1995 – June 1996.
• United States Naval Medical Research Unit Three (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt.  Aug. 1992 – June 1995.
• United States Navy Disease Vector Ecology and Control Center (NDVECC), Alameda, CA.  May 1990 – July 1992.

 

Biological Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) Facilities: Design, Construction and Management (Eagleson Institute), Phoenix, AZ, April 2012.

• Biological Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) Work Practices and Procedures (Eagleson Institute), Phoenix, AZ, April 2012. 

 

National Incident Management System courses (ICS-100; ICS-200; ICS-300; ICS-700), various locations and dates.

 

Dangerous Goods Transport (Saf-T-Pak), August 2012.

 

Hazardous Waste Operations training and EPA certification (HAZWOPER), Lubbock, TX, June 2010. 

 

COURSES TAUGHT

Public Health Entomology [ENTX 6115.004; 51013] (1 semester hour) Spring 2017

A graduate level seminar class focusing on the wide range of arthropod-vectored pathogens and arthropod-related disease conditions that are of public health concern, in the United States and globally.

 

Biological Threats in the Environment [ENTX 6312.001; 26479 ] (3 semester-hours) – A graduate level course that focuses upon the wide range of threats such as disease-causing and infectious agents that naturally occur in the environment, or may be intentionally or accidentally introduced. Course lectures include the methods, techniques and resources needed to detect, identify, prevent, control, and eliminate or minimize such threats.  Course taught every Spring Semester; 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

 

Advanced Topics in Environmental Toxicology [TOX 6300.002; 26444 ] (1 to 3 semester-hours) – A research exposure and project paper driven course, allowing the students to design, develop, conduct, and report on a highly focused research question.  Course taught as needed.

 

Diseases in Nature Transmittable to Man Seminar [ENTX 6115.003; CRN ] (1 semester hour) – A graduate level seminar class .  Initial course offering Fall semester 2013.

 

Master’s Thesis [ENTX 6000.013; 14607] (credit hours TBD) – Research, development and writing of thesis to fulfill requirements for Master of Science degree.

 

Research [ENTX 7000.013; 14775] (credit hours TBD) – An applied course of instruction and guidance for introduction and familiarization to research methods and procedures.

 

Doctor’s Dissertation [ENTX 8000.013; 14884] (credit hours TBD) - Research, development and writing of thesis to fulfill requirements for Doctorate of Philosophy degree.

 

PROFESSIONALLY RELEVANT

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Texas Department of State Health Services, High Consequence Infectious Diseases Task Force Member, Austin, Texas, USA. (January 2016 - Present).

 

Texas Health Commissioner's Senior Academic Advisory Board, Member, Austin, Texas. (July 2006 – July 2015).

 

Texas Ebola Taskforce: Statewide Preparedness Education Working Group, Member, Austin, Texas. (October 2014 - Present).

 

Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, Board Member, Lubbock, Texas. (May 2014 - Present).

City of Lubbock Oil and Gas Citizens Advisory Committee, Vice-Chairman, appointed (May 2013 – Present)

 

South Central U.S.A. Regional Director, Board of Directors, Society for Vector Ecology. (March 2013 – Present)

 

Hazardous Materials/Biological Threat Full Exercise, Lead, T12-75 TIEHH Bioterrorism Response Lab CPS/LRN-PHEP, Texas, United States, Relationship Development, Technical or Expert Assistance for Emergency Response and Public Health, Hazardous Materials/Biological Threat Full Exercise in select agent lab spaces with Hazard Response Teams, City of Lubbock Fire Department (72 participants), TIEHH Bioterrorism Response Lab, Lubbock, TX (12-14 November 2012).

 

City of Lubbock Board of Health, Chairperson, Lubbock, Texas. (January 2011 – December 2012).

 

City of Lubbock Board of Health, Board Member, Lubbock, Texas. (April 2009 - Present).

 

Publications Committee, American Mosquito Control Association, Committee Chair. (March 2009 - Present).

 

Appointed Member, Texas Department of State Health Services Academic Senior Advisory Forum on Public Health Preparedness; initially appointed by Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Texas Commissioner of Health during 2004, and reappointed by Dr. David Lakey, Texas Commissioner of Health (April 2007 – March 2012)

 

South Plains Association of Governments Emergency Response Advisory Council, Member, Lubbock, Texas. (June 2006 - Present).

 

Right-to-Know Committee, Lubbock County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Committee Chair, Lubbock, Texas. (May 2006 - Present).