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Dear Fellow Officers:
I would like to personally thank each officer who applied for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Service Chiefs Fellows Program (SCFP), and announce the recipient of this very prestigious fellowship. There were many officers who were deserving of this honor, which made my selection very difficult.
I would like to congratulate LCDR John Pesce as the third Commissioned Corps officer selected as a DARPA SCFP fellow. LCDR Pesce is a Scientist currently serving as a Program Officer in the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. At DARPA, LCDR Pesce will serve alongside other officers personally selected by the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. These officers, along with LCDR Pesce, are expected to become future national leaders within their services.
DARPA’s mission is to “prevent technology surprise from negatively affecting U.S. national security and create technology surprise for U.S. adversaries by maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S. military.” Two key components of the DARPA SCFP related to public health are cybersecurity and emerging infectious diseases. LCDR Pesce will explore new technologies and systems related to these issues, and many others. Moreover, he will develop an incredible network of innovators and leaders throughout the Department of Defense that can work collaboratively with the Commissioned Corps on numerous future projects, whatever the topic area.
I strongly encourage officers to continue to apply for this fellowship in the future – to solidify our enduring relationship with DARPA.
Again, congratulations to LCDR Pesce on this highly competitive selection.
Sincerely,
Brett P. Giroir, M.D.
ADM, USPHS
Assistant Secretary for Health
Commissioner of Food and Drugs (Acting)