Frontline instructors are highly trained laboratorians, accomplished speakers and educators, and recognized both nationally and internationally for their knowledge of biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory management.

LOUISE BARDEN, Ph.D., M.Ed., B.S., MT (ASCP), CHES

Dr. Barden joined Frontline Foundation in 2008 to advise instructors and staff in curriculum development and training techniques as well as to conduct training courses. She works directly with the training program director and the CERB chair to develop all content and materials. On the back end of the training, Dr. Barden evaluates instructor performance and the effectiveness of training programs as well as ensures data input and record-keeping to assure compliance with credentialing requirements. Prior to joining Frontline Foundation, Dr. Barden served as a Health Scientist and Health Education Specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for nearly 20 years planning, facilitating and evaluating all aspects of laboratory and other training courses, including designing evaluation instruments and working with statisticians to gather and analyze data. Part of that role included conducting workshops on Crisis Communication, Laboratory Biosecurity and Biosafety, Managing Teams and other topics. As a health education specialist, she managed, developed, disseminated and evaluated educational messages about hepatitis C to healthcare professionals. She also conducted research to determine the educational needs of physicians, health care providers and patients. Dr. Barden has authored nearly a dozen papers for the world’s leading medical publications, has delivered countless presentations, both nationally and internationally, on training healthcare professionals and laboratorians, and has won numerous awards for leading bioterrorism preparedness activities, customer service, and program operations. Dr. Barden, a certified Registered Medical Technologist and Health Education Specialist, earned her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a Master of Education and a Ph.D. in Health Promotion and Behavior from the University of Georgia.

GRETCHEN L. DEMMIN, Ph.D.

Dr. Demmin received her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Colorado Health Science Center and served as the USAMRIID Biosurety Officer and Director of Safety, Biosurety Operations, Plans and Security from January 2004– July 2008. She is an experienced researcher and clinical laboratory manager with extensive training and operational experience in high containment laboratory operations. Dr. Demmin was also the responsible Official for USAMRIID, the largest biodefense research laboratory in the Department of Defense, as well as project lead for implementing the Army Biosurety Program. She developed and implemented policies and reviewed procedures and personnel to ensure the safe and secure handling of all research materials, and the trustworthiness and reliability of all personnel. Dr. Demmin has extensive experience in preparing laboratories for inspection by the CDC Select Agent Program, and improved USAMRIID training programs by streamlining training requirements and converting many training programs to on-line training courses. In addition, Dr. Demmin provided design review and conflict resolution during the planning phase for the USAMRIID replacement project and represented the command in negotiations for the National Interagency Biodefense Campus.

ROBERT P. ELLIS, PhD, CBSP

Dr. Robert Ellis graduated from the University of Wyoming with a BS in Microbiology. Bob’s education continued with the MS and PhD degrees earned at Purdue University. He is currently the Director of Biosafety at Colorado State University. Bob joined the faculty at CSU in January 1978, and is Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology. Bob was appointed to the CSU Biosafety Committee in 1978, and was Biosafety Officer 1986-1989, and 1997 – present. Bob is a Certified Biological Safety Professional and a Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (Honorary). He was elected to the American Biological Safety Association Council in October, 2004, and was elected ABSA President in 2009. Bob is on the Editorial Board for Applied Biosafety. Bob has taught many pre-conference and summer session courses for ABSA and the Eagleson Institute. In addition to his CSU and ABSA activities, he has been the Executive Director of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases since 1987, and was the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Animal Health Research Reviews. Bob is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program of the NIH, and serves on the Biosafety Committees for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Wildlife Research Center. In 2004, Bob initiated and continues to direct the Biosafety and Biosecurity Training Course in Fort Collins, CO. The BBTC is held each July and includes Animal, Plant, and General biosafety and biosecurity training sessions. Bob initiated and is currently gaining administrative approval for a Master’s in Microbiology with a Biosafety Concentration, which will begin at Colorado State University Fall 2008. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CRAIG M. FREE, PE

Craig Free is a licensed engineer with over 20 years combined experience in the design, construction administration, commissioning, and installation of laboratory mechanical systems. Craig’s high containment design and construction management experience includes BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories located throughout the U.S. and the international community. In addition, Craig served as a Project Officer for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where he acted as Committee Chair for the development of CDC’s Mechanical Design and Construction Standards, which included BSL-3, ABSL-3, BSL-4, and ABSL-4 laboratories. Craig currently serves as President and CEO of Diversified Laboratory Sciences, Inc., a laboratory biosafety and engineering consulting company. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RICHARD J. GREEN, MSc, CTM

Richard Green is the Curriculum Development Director for the Frontline Healthcare Workers Safety Foundation in Atlanta, GA. He is a nationally known speaker and author with more than three dozen manuals, articles, scientific papers, books and other media to his credit. He is a Certified Training Manager with thirty years experience in training development and presentation techniques, and twenty five years experience in biosafety and laboratory safety. Mr. Green retired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 after 32 years of Federal service, the last 17 of which were served as the Safety Training Manager for the Office of Health and Safety at CDC. In this capacity he developed safety training materials including manuals, videotapes, CDs, job aids, posters, and calendars for distribution to CDC employees and laboratorians around the nation and the world. Most recently, Mr. Green was the Laboratory Training Manager & Biosafety Officer at the Georgia State Public Health Laboratory in Decatur, GA. where he planned and budgeted for the development and implementation of safety and health training for Georgia state public health workers. An expert on OSHA regulations, Mr. Green worked with bioterrorism experts to increase readiness of all Georgia public health workers and has developed and presented training courses in laboratory safety, biosafety, bioterrorism, risk assessment, and packaging and shipping. Mr. Green received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Genetics from George Washington University. In addition to being the recipient of the CDC Honor Award for Contributions to Health and Safety in 2002 and a Joint Service Commendation Medal in 1974, Green is also a member of the American Biological Safety Association, the Southeastern Biological Safety Association, the Genetics Society of Georgia, the Association of Cytogenetic Technologists and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. At the Frontline Foundation, Mr. Green is responsible for developing classroom and distance learning courses, overseeing on-site training programs at regional host sites and designated training facilities, and developing training delivery methods that maximize emerging technologies.

ROBERT HAWLEY, PhD, RBP, CBSP

Dr. Hawley currently serves as a Senior Advisor at the Midwest Research Institute in Frederick, Maryland. During 1988 through 1996 he served as Safety and Occupational Health Specialist and from 1996 to July 2003 as Chief, Safety and Radiation Protection Division the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, MD. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; an M.S. in Microbiology from the Catholic University of America, and a B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania Military College. He has authored many journal articles and textbook chapters on a variety of research and biological safety topics. He is a registered Biological Safety Professional with the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) and was the President of ABSA from October 2006 through October 2007. He currently serves as the Chair of the Biological Safety Examination Development Committee with the National Registry of Microbiology, American Academy of Microbiology. He holds professional memberships with the American Society for Microbiology, New York Academy of Sciences, and ABSA, and is Past-President of the Chesapeake Branch of ABSA. His professional services include membership on various national and international review and certification committees including the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) 1995 Inspection Team, Baghdad, Iraq, the World Health Organization team to inspect the Smallpox virus facility at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology (“VECTOR”) in Novosibirsk, Central Siberia, Russia, and consultant for the Environmental Protection Agency in Boca Raton, Florida and Washington, DC regarding sampling and decontamination of facilities exposed to Bacillus anthracis spores. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

debra L. Hunt, Dr. PH, R.B.P., C.B.S.p.

Dr. Hunt is Director, Biological Safety, Duke University/Duke University Health System, Durham, NC and is Assistant Clinical Professor, Community and Family Medicine, Duke University. She is a past president of the American Biological Safety Association, and serves as an expert on infection control on NASA’s Planetary Protection Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Advisory Board for National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program” (NIH), a team leader for management team for ABSA, and is on the editorial board for Applied Biosafety: Journal of the American Biological Safety Association. She has contributed many publications to the field of infection control; she is co-editor with Diane Fleming, of  Biological Safety, Principles and Practices, 4^th edition published by the American Society for Microbiology.

JOSEPH KANABROCKI PhD, NRM-BS, BCSP

Dr. Kanabrocki is currently the Assistant Dean for Biosafety and Associate Professor of Microbiology in the Biological Sciences Division of the University of Chicago. In this capacity, Dr. Kanabrocki serves as Select Agent Responsible Official, University Biosafety Officer and director of the Biosafety program at the University of Chicago’s Ricketts Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. Dr. Kanabrocki is formerly the Director of Biological Safety/Biological Safety Officer, Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Kanabrocki served as the administrative officer for the Washington University Institutional Biological and Chemical Safety Committee (IBC) as well as the institution’s Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Kanabrocki served as the Responsible Official and as Biosafety Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for eight years. Dr. Kanabrocki received a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of Notre Dame and his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He was trained as a post-doctoral fellow in the Section of Genetics and Development at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. and in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He obtained his professional certifications as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (C.B.S.P.) from the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA), where he has been a member since 1992, and from the National Registry of Microbiologists-Specialty Biological Safety (NRM-BS). Dr. Kanabrocki is a member of the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (NIH-RAC) and has been nominated to serve as a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB). Dr. Kanabrocki is an active member of ABSA, presently serving as Councilor. He also serves on the Examination Board for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) National Registry of Microbiologists and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the National Institutes of Health National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP).

J. Craig Reed, Ph.D., R.B.P.

Dr. Reed is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Reed served four years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command. During his military tenure he was stationed at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick where he served as Chief of the Genetics and Physiology Branch. As Principal Investigator, he established the Institute’s first yeast molecular genetics laboratory and directed investigations into the molecular mechanisms of plague pathogenesis. Dr. Reed has worked with pathogens in the U.S. at the Biological Safety Level-3 and has been trained in Russia to wear the Russian positive pressure pneumatic suit and operate in a Biological Safety Level-4 environment. Over the past eight years, Dr. Reed has been involved in multiple efforts to enhance transparency between facilities in the U.S. and former biological warfare laboratories of Russia and the Former Soviet Union (FSU). On behalf of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Reed has worked closely with the Directors and scientific staff of more than 50 epidemiological surveillance labs and biological research facilities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia and Ukraine to improve containment laboratory infrastructure and elements of biosafety, to promote interaction with Western collaborators and to identify viable opportunities that may lead these organizations toward future self-sustainability. Dr. Reed has also worked closely with the Ministers of Defense, Health, Agriculture and Emergency Situations in each of these countries to more closely align their existing biological safety regulations with the guidelines published by the National Institutes of Health/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Currently, Dr. Reed is Deputy Director of Global Health Programs at Technology Management Company. He is actively involved in the identification and development of business opportunities for biological production, scientific services and research/diagnostic equipment in the countries of Central Asia, the Trans Caucasus and Russia. He is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) with the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA).

SCOTT RUSK, MS

Scott Rusk received a Master’s of Science degree in Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine from Iowa State University. He is a member of the American Biological Safety Association and a charter member of the International Veterinary Biosafety Working Group. Scott has over 25 years of experience in biological safety and infectious disease containment facilities and has participated nationally and internally in defining approaches for facility needs, design, operations and maintenance of containment facilities. Scott previously held positions as Assistant Center Director at the USA, National Animal Disease Center, managing operations and support services and as Biocontainment Operations and Management Specialist with Flad & Associates. He has been involved in design for multiple project types, including Biosafety Level 4 at USAMRIID; Biosafety Level 3-ag at USDA, Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin; Biosafety Level 3-Enhaced at Battelle’s Medical Testing & Evaluation facility; and Biosafety Level 3 Regional Biocontainment Facilities for the University of Chicago and Tufts University. He currently serves as the Director of Pat Roberts Hall, home of the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI), Kansas State University. He is the coordinating focal point for all operational issues and works closely with University leadership in research program development. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it