Marc Ostfield

Marc Ostfield is Director of the Office of Policy and Global Issues in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR/PGI) at the U.S. Department of State where his offices focuses on counterterrorism, United Nations, human rights, environment, science, technology, health, crime, corruption, homeland security, strategic planning, and Congressional relations as they pertain to U.S. foreign policy with Europe and Eurasia. From 2002 to 2009, Dr. Ostfield was the Senior Advisor on Bioterrorism, Biodefense, and Health Security for the U.S. Department of State, Office of International Health and Biodefense. Over the course of his career, Dr. Ostfield has worked in more than 40 countries with U.S., European, and international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union, INTERPOL, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the World Bank -- and he previously directed the Behavior Change Communication Division of one of the largest USAID-sponsored global health programs. Recent publications include: "Pathogen Security: The Illusion of Security in Foreign Policy and Biodefense" (International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, 2009), "Strengthening Biodefense Internationally: Illusion and Reality" (Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, 2008), "Biodefense: U.S. Vision of Broader Cooperation" (European Affairs, Spring 2007), and "Bioterrorism as a Foreign Policy Issue" (The SAIS Review of International Affairs, 2004). Dr. Ostfield has received a range of academic and professional honors, including multiple Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor awards from the U.S. Department of State, the Diplomacy Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Javits Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education, the 2007 Franklin Award for initiative in Counterterrorism, the 2006 Meritorious Unit Citation from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and the 2006 President's Volunteer Service Award for his community service as a volunteer firefighter since 1995. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication -- and speaks French, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Transatlantic Partnerships to Counter Biological Threats

This presentation will look at local and global risks from biological threats, and, in particular, some of the crucial issues at this intersection of science and security. With very real concerns about the evolving threat of bioterrorism, this presentation will examine the key steps policy makers and scientists need to take in order to promote global scientific cooperation and simultaneously protect against those who would use biological agents to harm individuals and societies. Emphasis will be on specific areas for creating or enhancing collaboration and partnerships between the U.S. and Europe to help transform the transatlantic and international dialogue and address these dual goals. This presentation will describe ways that, with a comprehensive and international approach, we can reduce the threats from infectious diseases – whether naturally occurring, or the result of an accident or deliberate release.