Senior Scholar Dr. Gigi Gronvall Receives Award from US Department of Defense

April 2022 – Gigi Kwik Gronvall, PhD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has been conferred an award by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

Dr. Gronvall is the recipient of a Medal for Exceptional Public Service from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the second-highest award presented to non-career federal employees. The medal recognizes her work as a Special Government Employee appointed to the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee from October 2010 to December 2019. In this role, Dr. Gronvall also supported DoD’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

As a member of the Committee, Dr. Gronvall directly contributed to recommendations on DoD issues related to nuclear deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction; provided study leadership; and briefed senior DoD leadership.

“Throughout her tenure, Dr. Gronvall made invaluable suggestions drawing upon her broad expertise in bioterrorism, biosecurity and biosafety, public health policy, and national security. [She] exemplified the highest standards for senior officials assigned to Federal Advisory Committees advising the Department,” states an accompanying citation signed by the US Secretary of Defense.