Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Sparks serves as the Senior Director for International Cooperation for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense (DASD(CBD)).  On behalf of the DASD(CBD), she is responsible for overseeing chemical and biological defense international engagements and the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) international program.

Dr. Sparks has comprehensive knowledge and expertise in chemical and biological research, development, and acquisition (RDA) activities as well as significant engagement and strategic communication experience with Congress, the Executive Office of the President, the interagency, and with international partners – which she uses to help advance ODASD(CBD) and CBDP mission objectives. 

She previously served as a Special Advisor to Deputy Undersecretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (DUSD(A&S)) where she supported the development and implementation of strategic planning, business operations, mission execution, and partnership building.  Dr. Sparks also served as a Special Advisor for the Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and as an Acquisition Program Manager for the CBDP’s Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO).  She first joined the Department of Defense as an all-source intelligence analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and later gained experience supporting the warfighter as the Chief Scientific Advisor for a component of the U.S. Special Operations Command. 

Dr. Sparks has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Vanderbilt University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Mary Baldwin College.