Dawn O’Connell

Biography

Dawn O’Connell served as the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) from 2021-2025. In this role, O’Connell led the nation in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies and disasters. During her tenure, O’Connell responded to 20 public health emergencies; dozens of natural disasters; eight significant infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, mpox, and H5N1; and over 400 cybersecurity incidents.  

Under O’Connell’s leadership she grew the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response from a Secretarial office into a $3.6 billion public health agency overseeing the Strategic National Stockpile, the National Disaster Medical System, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The role required coordination with the White House, other Departments and Agencies, the Secretary’s Office, state and local governments, and the private sector. During her tenure, ASPR had the highest employee satisfaction numbers in its history. 

Before joining the Biden Administration, O’Connell was the Director of the US Office for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation (CEPI), a global partnership to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics. As Director, she was responsible for managing the broad spectrum of CEPI’s U.S. and North American interests including its relationships with stakeholders, government entities, and industry partners. 

Prior to her work with CEPI, O’Connell served as a Senior Counselor to Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Sebelius at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Obama Administration. In these roles, O’Connell advised the Secretaries on high-priority domestic policy, global health and humanitarian issues, such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the surge of unaccompanied children at the southern border. She worked with HHS leaders, the White House, and other federal and international partners, to resolve key policy challenges, lead implementation, and drive progress toward Administration goals.

O’Connell began her career as a legislative aide to Congressman John M. Spratt, Jr, Chairman of the House Budget Committee. She spent twelve years on the Hill serving first as Rep. Spratt’s Legislative Counsel, then Legislative Director, and finally four years as his Chief of Staff. 

She is currently a Lecturer and Senior Fellow in the Emergency Preparedness Program at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health; an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health; and Principal at Health Security Strategies. 

O’Connell received a Bachelor of Arts in literature from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Ben and two daughters, Frannie and Maddie.