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Biden Administration International Affairs Personnel Tracker
David Kessler
Chief Science Officer for COVID-19 Response
Dr. David A. Kessler is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Kessler held multiple public and private sector lead positions in medical science before serving as FDA Commissioner from 1990-1997, after which he was named dean of Yale medical school (1997-2003) and Dean of the School of Medicine and the Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs at UCSF (2003-2007).
During his time as FDA Commissioner, Dr. Kessler was active in progressing the development and approval of AIDS drugs in the 1990s. Recently, he has been serving as a key advisor to President Biden on COVID-19 policy and is co-chair of the Biden transition team’s COVID-19 task force.
Dr. Kessler’s position does not require Senate confirmation. His appointment was announced on January 15, 2021.
On China
Although Dr. Kessler appears to have no publicly-known views regarding China or the U.S.-China relationship at this time, he has addressed China issues in the past.
For instance, in December 2020, Dr. Kessler was one of the attorneys in charge of prosecution on the case of “China-Based Executive at U.S. Telecommunications Company Charged with Disrupting Video Meetings Commemorating Tiananmen Square Massacre” at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Notable Interviews & Commentary
While a prolific writer on the topic of nutrition, Dr. Kessler appears to have no public views regarding China or the U.S.-China relationship at this time. His interviews thus far have been focused on responding to the Covid-19 response, particularly in the domestic realm.
- “Transcript: The Rachel Maddow Show, 12/23/21,” MSNBC, December 23, 2021
- Dr. Kessler was a witness at the congressional hybrid hearing on “Reaching the Light at the End of the Tunnel: A Science-Driven Approach to Swiftly and Safely Ending the Pandemic” held on April 15, 2021. The two other witnesses were Dr. Anthony Fauci (NIAID Director) and Dr. Rochelle Walensky (CDC Director).
- His written testimony made no mention of China.
Podcast Interview, Fixing Healthcare, “Episode 22: Former FDA commissioner on ending the COVID-19 pandemic,” June 15, 2020
Media Commentary & Public Perceptions
- “Covid News: Thanksgiving Air Travel May Rise to Near 2019 Level,” The New York Times, November 17, 2021
- “Covid-19: On Capitol Hill, Top Health Officials Urge Americans to Get Shots,” The New York Times, May 10, 2021
- “Biden taps D.C. veteran David Kessler for vaccination drive,” Politico, January 15, 2021
- “Biden Picks Former F.D.A. Chief to Lead Federal Vaccine Efforts,” The New York Times, January 15, 2021
- “Former FDA chief David Kessler will helm Operation Warp Speed for Biden,” STAT, January 15, 2021
Kessler is something of a controversial choice. His list of accomplishments at the FDA…is long and bold. But until he began advising the Biden campaign on the pandemic, he had not worked in government for more than 20 years, since serving as Clinton’s FDA commissioner. Kessler also does not have a background in vaccine development, or in mass vaccination campaigns.
Page Last Updated: January 26, 2022
*None of the personnel in this tracker are associated with the Institute for China-America Studies. All images used on this page are sourced from the official Biden-Harris transition website buildbackbetter.gov or the public domain.*
