Liaison for Department of Defense

CDR Eric Deussing, MD, MPH

Commander (CDR) Eric Deussing was named as the fifth DOD liaison to the CDC; in this position he advises the CDC on military capabilities and promotes strategic collaboration between these two agencies across their diverse global missions. Principal areas of engagement include emergency response operations, global health partnership, pandemic influenza planning, and Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense. Additionally, CDR Deussing serves as the DOD ex-officio on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes immunization policy for the nation.

Previously, CDR Deussing served as the Director of Public Health, Emergency Preparedness & Response (M37) and the Supervisory Public Health Emergency Officer (PHEO) for Navy Medicine. He led a 21 person-team in policy development and program management of Seasonal Influenza, Pandemic Influenza, CBRN decontamination, Preventive Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Force Health Protection, Emergency Management, and Continuity of Operations Planning. Also as M37 Director, CDR Deussing oversaw Navy Medicine’s multidisciplinary Crisis Action Team (CAT) and the Emergency Operations Center. He guided the CAT’s activation and response to the Zika virus outbreak, and he oversaw Navy Medicine’s global response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, including the preparation of 137 Navy hospitals and clinics. He was the Navy lead partner with CDC for two high-profile multistate investigations, one involving Anthrax and another blood-borne pathogens.

CDR Deussing served as a preventive medicine officer at the Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO (NEPMU-2) in Norfolk, VA. At NEPMU-2 he was the Officer in Charge of Forward Deployable Preventive Medicine Unit Team-ONE and the Head of the Medical Threat Assessment Department. He led diverse teams with expertise in preventive medicine, microbiology, environmental health, and industrial hygiene to provide rapid, CBRN weapon detection support, and consultation to U.S. Navy forces in five geographic Combatant Commands and two Navy Medicine regions. He personally led three outbreak investigations in the U.S. and overseas in coordination with CDC and state officials. While at NEPMU-2, CDR Deussing deployed to support Pacific Partnership 2012, overseeing the public health aspects of 171 discreet missions in the Philippines and Cambodia and advancing global health partnerships at national and local levels.

CDR Deussing is a graduate of the Navy flight surgery program in Pensacola, FL. He served as an operational flight surgeon with Patrol Squadron Sixteen in Jacksonville, FL. There he supervised the medical care of a 420 person squadron. He also completed a patrol squadron deployment spanning 14 different countries on three separate continents with zero Class-A mishaps. CDR Deussing served as the Senior Medical Officer for Naval Air Facility (NAF), Washington, DC, overseeing all clinical care at the NAF Branch Health Clinic. Additionally, he was responsible for the medical readiness for 3,800 Naval Reserve members within Navy District Washington.

CDR Deussing’s education includes a bachelors and Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University, and a Master of Public Health degree from the Uniformed Services University. He is residency trained and board certified in Public Health General Preventive Medicine. He served on the 2011 U.S. delegation to the World Health Organization’s 64th World Health Assembly. CDR Deussing has presented original research at scientific conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals, scientifically reviews for Military Medicine Journal, and has been awarded the Ashton Graybiel Award in aerospace medical research. He is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. He also serves as the Assistant Specialty Leader for Navy Preventive Medicine physicians.

CDR Deussing’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (2), the Navy Battle “E”, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with service star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal for Kosovo, and the Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbons.

CDR Deussing and his wife Leigh have a daughter, Hannah; they live in Atlanta, GA.