-January 22, 2010-

Dr. Craig Vanderwagen, former HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, joins Martin, Blanck & Associates.

Dr. Craig Vanderwagen is retired from the U.S. Public Health Service, after 28 years of service, in the rank of Rear Admiral, most recently serving as the founding Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He offers unique and groundbreaking experience in biodefense, domestic disaster preparedness and response, international humanitarian and disaster response, federal health delivery systems, innovative organization development and evaluation, and cross-cultural health care.

“It is a great pleasure to have Criag Vanderwagen join us,” said Dr. Ron Blanck, Chairman, Martin, Blanck & Associates. “He brings special skills and extensive experience to Martin, Blanck & Associates and will expand what we are able to offer to our clients.”

Prior to becoming Assistant Secretary, Vanderwagen’s career included many deployments in disaster environments, to include: lead federal health official in Louisiana after Katrina from August-November, 2005; lead public health official and senior officer aboard the USNS Mercy in Indonesia after the tsunami in 2005; Director of Primary Care and Public Health for the Ministry of Health in Iraq from September 2003-March, 2004; consultant to the Pan American Health Organization in Honduras after Hurricane Mitch in 1999; and Medical Director for Project Provide Refuge (joint DOD-HHS Kosovar refugee assistance) in 1999.  These deployed assignments however were in addition to his regular duties in the Indian Health Service where during his 25 years of service, he held a number of responsible positions and was the agency’s Chief Medical Officer as his last assignment.

 

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