Please take a look at an interesting fact from our 20 years of serving our country in the world of science and technology policy and innovation:

Bioterrorism Against the United States

In September of 2001 Dr. David Siegrist, a Senior Research Fellow and Director of Biodefense for the National Security Health Policy Center (NSHPC) at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies helped to pioneer discussions regarding the current threats, potential dangers and driving forces of directed bioterrorism against the United States — terrorism involving the intentional release of topical agents such as anthrax, smallpox, etc. In October of 2001 the first 10 confirmed cases of inhalational anthrax caused by intentional release of Bacillus anthracis were identified in the United States, just months after David Siegrist fostered conversations on the subject with top news outlet, CNN. In discussing the existing and rising threats of bioterrorism, Siegrist explained the national security measures that had been taken as well as elaborated on the ways in which measures could be amplified.

As a cultural fear rose around the country, Dr. Siegrist offered palpable recommendations toward establishing effective responses to these acts of terrorism, such as the need to develop an end-to-end system simulation for responding to mass casualty attacks and suggesting that the Department of Health and Human Services should be given indemnity by Congress to develop new vaccines. Further, Dr. Siegrist stems ideas that simulation capabilities to fight bioterrorism should be implemented and he also advocated that the 40-some agencies that were doing work in this area to develop a cohesive action plan under 1 authoritative agency in order to cultivate effective and efficient strategies.