UCR | Entomology Careers in Academia & Beyond
Military Panel
Wednesday April 7, 2021
1 - 2:30pm PST
MARK BREIDENBAUGH, PhD
Mark Breidenbaugh is the District Manager at Northwest Mosquito & Vector Control District and remains as a reservist (medical entomologist) in the Air Force. He received his B.S. in Botany from California State Polytechnic University, his M.S. in Entomology from UC, Riverside, and his PhD in Aquatic Ecology/Biology from Kent State University. Previously, Dr. Breidenbaugh served as the Chief Entomologist for the Air Force Aerial Spray Unit where he manages scientific aspects of the Department of Defense’s only fixed-wing aerial spray capability. The primary mission of the unit is to interrupt transmission of arthropod-borne disease, including arboviruses, in order to protect U.S. troops and, secondarily, to respond and provide interdiction during domestic insect outbreaks.
ALEC GERRY, PhD
Alec Gerry is a Professor of Veterinary Entomology and Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Entomology at the University of California at Riverside. He received his B.A. in Biology from UC Berkeley and completed his Ph.D. in Medical & Veterinary Entomology at UC Riverside. Previously, Dr. Gerry was employed as a Senior Public Health Biologist for the California Department of Public Health and as a medical entomologist in the United States Army. Dr. Gerry studies the biology, ecology, and integrated management of pest arthropods and disease vectors of animals. Of particular interest is insect dispersal, the impact of ectoparasites to their hosts, and the behavior of biting flies that transmit pathogens.
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, MS, BCE
Chris Martin was born in Santa Barbara, CA. He attended UC, Santa Barbara from 2003-2007. During this time he worked at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and UC Cooperative Extension. He then attended UC, Riverside from 2008-2010 where he studied impacts of housing and dustbathing on poultry ectoparasites under the direction of Dr. Brad Mullens. He moved to Virginia in 2011 and now works as an entomologist for Naval Facilities Systems Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic. Chris is married with two beautiful daughters (5 and 3 years old). In his spare time, he teaches karate.
MAJOR JAREÉ LENORE JOHNSON, BCE
MAJ Jareé Johnson is the Director of the Entomology Department at the United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa in Kisumu Kenya. Her current military research portfolio includes monitoring insecticidal resistance, surveillance of arthropods vectors and their diseases of military importance, and product evaluation. MAJ Johnson hails from Gary, Indiana and has academic degrees in Animal Science (Prairie View A&M University), Animal Health and Disease (University of Rhode Island), Aquatic and Medical Entomology (Michigan State University), and is a Board Certified Entomologist in Medical & Veterinary Entomology.