Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response

On October 6, 2014, Governor Rick Perry created the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response through Executive Order RP-79. The Task Force was composed of seventeen members, and included representatives from pertinent state agencies, as well as experts in infectious disease, emergency management, and in public health preparedness and response.

H.B. 2950, 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, codified the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response in Texas Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapter 81, Subchapter J. The Task Force is required to provide expert, evidence-based assessments, protocols, and recommendations related to state responses to infectious diseases, as well as serve as a source of information and education.

H.B. 2950 is created as an advisory panel to the Governor, and task force membership is determined by the Governor.

Enabling statute: Health and Safety Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter J

Task Force Member Names and Institutions
James Bass	Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation
Stephanie Bergeron Perdue	Interim Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Ed Emmett	Harris County Judge
Christopher R. Frei, Pharm.D.	Associate Professor and Division Head, Pharmacotherapy Department of the University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy
Janet Glowicz, MPH, PhD (C) RN, CIC	Public health analyst for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
John Hellerstedt, M.D.	Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services
Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.	Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine
Tim Irvine	Executive Director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Nim Kidd	Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management
Thomas Ksiazek, D.V.M., Ph.D.	Director of High Containment Operations and Director of the Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
David Lakey, M.D.	Associate Vice Chancellor for Population Health at the University of Texas System
Binh-Minh “Jade” Le, M.D.	Associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
James Le Duc, Ph.D.	Director of the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch
Scott Lillibridge, M.D	Director of Health Initiatives at the Texas A&M University System and professor of Epidemiology at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health
Tony Marquardt	Paramedic with the City of Austin / Travis County Emergency Medical Service
Muriel Marshall, D.O., DrPH	Collin County Health Authority
Steve McCraw	Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety
Michael Morath	Commissioner of Education
Kristy Murray, D.V.M., Ph.D.	Associate professor of pediatrics and tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital
Major General John Nichols	Texas Adjutant General
Dorothy Overman, M.D.	Comal County Health Authority
Rolando Pablos	Texas Secretary of State
Raymund Paredes, Ph.D.	Commissioner of Higher Education
Gerald Parker, D.V.M., Ph.D.	Associate Vice President of Public Health Preparedness and Response at Texas A&M Health Science Center
David Slayton	Administrative Director of the State Office of Court Administration
Kristina Stillsmoking, Ph.D., MSN	Director of the Simulation Hospital, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Victoria Sutton, Ph.D.	Director of the Center for Biodefense, Law and Public Policy at Texas Tech University School of Law
William Tierney, M.D.	Inaugural Chair of the Department of Population Health at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
Edward E. Yosowitz, M.D.	Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology
Dale Wainwright	Chair of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice
Cecile Young	Interim Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
Ben Zeller	Victoria County Judge