Deborah E. Wilson, DrPH, SM (NRCM), CBSP, RADM, U. S. Public Health Service (Ret.) served the National Institutes of Health for 34 years retiring from her position as Director, Division of Occupational Health and Safety where she was responsible for daily safety operations, technical assistance and support for the national research enterprise. An internationally renowned expert in microbiological containment, Dr. Wilson has served on the WHO Biosafety Advisory Group and has been actively involved in the International Polio Eradication Program with regard to post-eradication containment. Dr. Wilson was also the founder and Director of the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program.

Dr. Wilson has a vast background in medical microbiology and she has held positions as clinical bacteriologist, diagnostic virologist and chlamydiologist. A graduate of Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Dr. Wilson received her Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Biohazard Science in 1981. She returned to Chapel Hill and received her Doctorate in Public Health in 1988 after studying the effects of vaccination on aerogenic infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Fungal and Mycobacterial Antigens Branch, Bureau of Biologics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Wilson joined the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1984 and retired as a Rear Admiral. Dr. Wilson was Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Maryland and has received numerous awards including the DHHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service for her contributions during and in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and the United States Public Health Service Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Medals.