Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats

The Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (OCET) provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for FDA’s national and global health security, counterterrorism, and emerging threats portfolios.

Major Functions

• Serves as FDA’s point of entry on policy and planning matters concerning global health security, counterterrorism and emerging threats
• Develops and coordinates the implementation of comprehensive FDA plans and strategies for these portfolios in collaboration with FDA centers and offices, and with external U.S. government and international partners
• Serves as the FDA focal point for the HHS Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise  (PHEMCE) and Department of Defense medical countermeasure (MCM) programs to support the warfighter
• Coordinates FDA’s Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi)  to facilitate the development of safe and effective MCMs against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents and emerging threats, such as pandemic influenza
• Develops and coordinates implementation of FDA policies and procedures to facilitate the availability of MCMs, including efforts to safeguard MCMs from adulteration or disruption of supplies during public health emergencies, and enable access to available MCMs when necessary through an appropriate mechanism, such as Emergency Use Authorization
• On behalf of the Commissioner, facilitates communications within FDA and with external partners on counterterrorism policy, public health emergency preparedness, and global health security