PNNL

Ann Lesperance, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) national security advisor, was invited to join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Applied Research Topics for Hazard Mitigation and Resilience. The committee identifies applied research topics, information, and expertise to inform the science of natural hazard mitigation and resilience and enables applications of science, data, and technology.

“This is a great opportunity to share our expertise in hazard response across the chemical, biological, and nuclear realms and to build our network with the first responder, emergency management, and public health and safety communities,” Lesperance said. She most recently completed an assignment on the NASEM Resilient America Roundtable where she worked programs regarding risk, resilience, and extreme events.

Lesperance is the director of PNNL’s Northwest Regional Technology Center for Homeland Security located in Seattle and is currently on a joint appointment to Northeastern University – Seattle, serving as the Northeastern University Seattle Director of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. She works extensively with federal, state, and local emergency managers and public safety officials on technical and policy issues with an emphasis on terrorist activities, biological events, port security, and critical infrastructure protection. Through her joint role with Northeastern University – Seattle, she is also helping connect students with opportunities to grow as future leaders in security and resilience.  

Lesperance’s latest NASEM committee appointment began in December 2020 and will end on September 29, 2021.