ARNSF – The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility



ARNSF – The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

Composite image with a photo of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in the background. Layered over this image is the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum logo above the title, date and location of the event: "The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility," Feb. 20, 2025, Carriage Club in downtown Kansas City.In this presentation of the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum (ARNSF), Steven B. Witt and Jason Walker will discuss the mission and some of the ongoing projects at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. The NBAF officially opened its doors in May 2023 with the mission of protecting the United States against transboundary, emerging and zoonotic animal diseases that threaten our food supply, agricultural economy and public health. Once fully operational, NBAF will be a critical component of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) priority — the development of animal vaccines and other countermeasures for the detection of diseases that threaten livestock, other animals and food from our nation’s farms and fields.

This event is only open to members of the ARNSF. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org.


Steve B. Witte, Biologics Development Module director for the National Bio and Agro-Defense FacilitySteve B. Witte is the Biologics Development Module (BDM) director for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), which is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Witte has worked in the biological development, research, and animal health fields for more than 25 years. Prior to joining NBAF, Witte was a research scientist and most recently a senior research scientist team leader at Elanco in Indiana, where he managed the analytical and process development research team for food and companion animal vaccines and biotherapeutics. Witte earned a Master of Science in pathobiology from Kansas State University in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Kansas in 1994. While at KSU, Witte worked full-time at the College of Veterinary Medicine in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology as a microbiologist in the Virus Serology lab.

 

Jason Walker, public affairs specialist / outreach coordinator for the National Bio and Agro-Defense FacilityJason Walker is a public affairs specialist / outreach coordinator for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). In his current role, Walker coordinates and participates in meetings, conferences, panels, and other outreach activities in support of NBAF. He also creates and manages print and multimedia content for NBAF’s social media and other public facing activities for the NBAF’s communications team. A graduate of Kansas State University, Walker has worked in the media and public relations field for more than 30 years. Prior to joining NBAF, Walker was the public relations director with the Kansas Department of Agriculture where he provided day-to-day leadership for the agency by helping develop and evaluate all forms of communication for public release. He also helped develop key agency materials used for industry outreach.


Questions about registration? – Contact Laurie Morgado, lmorgado@cgscf.org or call 913-651-0624.

For questions about the ARNSF contact Col. (Ret.) Robert Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org or call 913-240-1495.

Please register below.


The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is an exclusive professional information sharing
and networking event exclusively for select invitees of the CGSC Foundation and its Simons Center.
CGSC Foundation and Simons Center logos placed horizontally left to rightThe 2025 Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is sponsored by:

ECCO Select logo



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