Mr. Jim Banaski is a worldwide recognized expert in the field of Public Health Emergency Management, preparedness programming, program evaluation, and training and exercise development. Mr. Banaski retired from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after 28 years of combined federal service, having also served with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army. Mr. Banaski has provided public health preparedness and response technical assistance to countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa. Mr. Banaski has led and supported projects with the World Health Organization (WHO) European Regional Office, WHO Country Offices in Armenia and Tajikistan, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, CRDF Global, Department of State Biosecurity Engagement Program, Georgetown University, Health Security Partners, the International Association of National Public Health Institutes, and others that provide capacity development technical assistance. Mr. Banaski is also an 11-year veteran of the U.S. Army Chemical Corp, having served in various positions, including nuclear, biological, and chemical reconnaissance; Special Operations; sensitive site exploitation; decontamination; and training development and execution.
Mr. Banaski holds a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and Biology from Drury University and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from Webster University. Mr. Banaski also holds the Certified Emergency Manager designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers and the Master Exercise Practitioner certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Banaski is the co-author of the textbook Essentials of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Management, Second Edition, published by Jones and Bartlett Learning in 2018. Mr. Banaski has also served as an Adjunct Professor for Drury University and is currently an Adjunct Instructor for Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, a Center Affiliate for Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Science & Security, and an Adjunct Instructor for Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases program.