Gerald L. Epstein

Dr. Gerald Epstein is a Distinguished Fellow with the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at National Defense University.  He works at the intersection of science, technology, and security policy, particularly concerning the governance and security implications of advanced life sciences, biotechnologies, and other emerging and converging technologies. Previously, he served at the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) as Assistant Director for Biosecurity and Emerging Technologies, a position he held on detail from his Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Policy.  Before joining DHS, Dr. Epstein had held positions with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Institute for Defense Analyses, and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.  In a prior White House appointment, he served jointly as Assistant OSTP Director for National Security and Senior Director for Science and Technology on the National Security Council staff.  He holds S.B. degrees in physics and in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of California at Berkeley