Our guest speaker, Asha M. George, DrPH, Executive Director, Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, spoke to us about the nation’s preparation for and needs for biodefense.

Attendees at the recent Susquehanna Chapter dinner meeting on March 18th may have been a bit shaken by Dr. Asha George’s presentation, “Current Biological Weapons Threats.” While not a topic of discussion for most, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense keeps it front and center.

The threat of bioterrorism and biological warfare is growing, with Russia, North Korea, and other countries identified by the Department of State as possibly running active biological weapons programs.

The biological threat has been a concern for our warfighters for decades. However, improved delivery methods, detection, and the agents' toxicity extend beyond the battlefield, affecting civilians, the industrial base, and medical responses for covert operations.

Dr. George provided a number of facts about the emerging programs of Russia and North Korea, and the advances made through genetic engineering, altering human physiology, reducing immune response, and making attribution impossible.

If you missed the meeting or would like a copy of her presentation slides, visit the Susquehanna Chapter website 2026.03.17 MOAA presentation Bio.pdf