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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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The Immediate Office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

The Immediate Office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR/IO) is led by the Assistant Secretary. Dawn O’Connell currently serves as the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

The Assistant Secretary is the principal advisor to the Secretary on all matters related to federal public health and medical preparedness and response for public health emergencies. The Assistant Secretary is responsible for carrying out ASPR’s mission and implementing the functions of ASPR. 

The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) and Chief Operating Officer for ASPR is Nikki Bratcher-Bowman. The PDAS provides guidance and support to all elements within the ASPR on behalf of the Assistant Secretary. 

Key Functions

  1. Ensure development and maintenance of liaison relationships with HHS operating and staff divisions and represent HHS at interagency meetings, as required.
  2. Oversee advanced research, development, and procurement of qualified countermeasures, security countermeasures, and qualified pandemic or epidemic products.
  3. Coordinate with relevant federal officials to ensure integration of public health policy and federal preparedness and response activities for public health emergencies.
  4. Coordinate the strategic and operational activities for public health preparedness, response, and recovery.
  5. Establish and maintain effective communications and outreach guidance and support for all external communications, including legislative and executive branch questions and inquiries.
  6. Serve as the principal advisor to the ASPR on all legislative strategies to fulfill the ASPR and HHS missions.

The Immediate Office of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response is headed by the Assistant Secretary and includes the following components: the Office of External Affairs; the Office of Legislative Affairs; the Office of Public Affairs; the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Requirements; and the Executive Secretariat.

 
 
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