"International Biosecurity: Finding a Balance"

Abstract: The threat of biological terrorism and the reality of naturally emerging and endemic infectious disease are real human security concerns of the time in which we live. In the U.S. bioterrorism defense is currently supported, possibly more vigorously than public health.  In Africa--- a continent is ravaged by HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis---bioterrorism is of minimal concern.  The focus in Western Europe and Russia lies somewhere in between. These are strategic national security challenges.  As we attempt to understand, rank and deal with our real and perceived threats, it is important that we maintain our perspective.  While we know our vulnerabilities and the potential impact of terrorism, we understand that nature is more likely to strike than terrorists.  Furthermore, we should know that our preparations for natural outbreaks and epidemics are more useful than we might think.  While we must do everything we can to protect our citizens, it is impossible to prepare very specifically for the nearly unpredictable terrorist threat or emerging disease.  Working together, internationally, on these hard problems, not only reduces the potential impact but also provides transparency and understanding which raise the bar for state-sponsored biowarfare and---possibly---undermines the popular support for terrorism.  Dr. Franz will explore the margins between bioterrorism, biowarfare and natural disease and the leverage which can come from addressing these challenges in the international community.

Bio: Dr. Franz served in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command for 23 of 27 years on active duty and retired as Colonel.  He served as Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and as Deputy Commander of the Medical Research and Materiel Command.  Prior to joining the Command, he served as Group Veterinarian for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Dr. Franz was the Chief Inspector on three United Nations Special Commission biological warfare inspection missions to Iraq and served as technical advisor on long-term monitoring.  He also served as a member of the first two US-UK teams that visited Russia in support of the Trilateral Joint Statement on Biological Weapons and as a member of the Trilateral Experts' Committee for biological weapons negotiations.

Dr. Franz was Technical Editor for the Textbook of Military Medicine on Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare released in 1997. Current committee appointments include the Defense Intelligence Agency Red Team Bio-Chem 2020, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Threat Reduction Advisory Committee, the National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) Committee for Research with Russian Biological Institutes (chair), the NAS Committee on International Security and Arms Control, the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Advisory Committee, the Department of Health and Human Services' National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity. 

Dr. Franz holds an adjunct appointment as Professor for the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, and serves on the Dean's Advisory Council.  He also holds an adjunct appointment as Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at University of Alabama at Birmingham.  Dr. Franz serves as a Senior Fellow in the Combating Terrorism Center of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Dr. Franz holds a D.V.M. from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Baylor College of Medicine.