Our Team

William B. Karesh, DVM

President, One Health Concepts

Dr. William (Billy) Karesh is the Founder and President of One Health Concepts, bridging the gaps between human, animal, and environmental health to create comprehensive, multi-sectoral solutions for complex local to global challenges. Dr. Karesh serves as the Chair of the World Animal Health Organisation’s Working Group on Wildlife. He helped establish the UNEP Nature for Health Program and served on its Steering Committee since inception. Dr. Karesh also serves on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations Roster of Experts focused on the human-animal interface and wildlife health.

In 2016, he was appointed as an ex-officio member of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense and became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He works with government agencies around the world and is an invited expert for intergovernmental and development organizations including UNISDR, FAO, WHO, and the World Bank. Dr. Karesh has pioneered initiatives focusing attention and resources on solving challenges created by the interactions among wildlife, people, and their animals, developing and leading projects in over 50 LMIC countries. In 2003, he coined the term “One Health” to describe the interdependence of healthy ecosystems, animals and people.

Our Team

Commissioners

Governor Tom Ridge

Co-Chair

Tom Ridge is Chairman of Ridge Global. He provides clients with solutions to cyber security, international security...

Secretary Donna Shalala

Co-Chair

Donna E. Shalala is Trustee Professor of Political Science and Health Policy at the University of Miami....

Senator Tom Daschle

Commissioner

Senator Daschle is the Founder and CEO of The Daschle Group, A Public Policy Advisory of Baker...

Congressman Fred Upton

Commissioner

Serving in Congress for 36 years from 1987-2023, Representative Fred Upton is proud to have represented the...

Congresswoman Susan Brooks

Commissioner

Susan W. Brooks is an accomplished former Congresswoman and former U.S. Attorney who has driven key legislation...

Congressman Jim Greenwood

Commissioner

James C. Greenwood is a Senior Policy Advisor at the DLA Piper law firm, chairing its Life...

The Honorable Peggy Hamburg

Commissioner

Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg recently retired as foreign secretary for the National Academy of Medicine and completed her...

Asha M. George, DrPH

Executive Director

Dr. Asha M. George is a public health security professional whose research and programmatic emphasis has been...

Former Commissioners

Senator Joe Lieberman

All of us at the Commission are in shock and are heartbroken at news that Senator Lieberman has died suddenly and unexpectedly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Hadassah, their children, and extended family.

We all were the beneficiaries of Joe’s many years of selfless public service, his kindness, and civility. Joe was the definition of a Mensch – a person of great integrity and honor. He always put others first and always worked to better our nation, to which he tirelessly devoted so much of his energy. He had an indefatigable spirit that always pushed our work forward.

For nearly ten years, Joe was my co-chair here at the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. He cared deeply about the mission, for sure. Even more, he cared about each of our fellow Commissioners and the staff, all of whom I know are personally grieving at this tremendous loss. May his memory be a blessing.

Tom Ridge
March 27, 2024