Washington--Three faculty members at The George Washington University have been named as expert consultants on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Infrastructure Advisory Team, operated and managed by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. GW’s appointees include: Dr. Tee Guidotti, chairman of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in the School of Public Health and Health Services; Dr. Peter Hotez, chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Tropical Medicine in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences; and Dr. Barry L. Berman, professor of Physics in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

The three professors will provide expertise in the areas of chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological terrorism, and will be on call 24/7. GW was one of a handful of institutions to have faculty selected to fill this important role. Very few institutions had multiple faculty members chosen.

“The Department of Homeland Security clearly recognizes The George Washington University as a source for homeland security expertise,” said Dr. John F. Williams, , MD, EdD, MPH, University Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs. “This is yet another example of the nation calling upon GW to assist with 21st century challenges.”

Several other GW faculty members also hold appointments with the Department of Homeland Security. Associate Vice President for Homeland Security Frank Cilluffo is a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advisory Council. The Council provides advice and recommendations to Secretary Tom Ridge on homeland security-related issues. Dr. Williams and Paul Maniscalco, assistant professor of Health Sciences, serve as members of the Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

For more information on all of GW’s homeland security experts and programs, please visit: www.homelandsecurity.gwu.edu or call 202-994-2437

Posted: December 18, 2003

<top>