LTC Edward T. Clayson, USA, Retired, is the Deputy Joint Project Manager for the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office located in Frederick, Maryland.

In this role, he assists the Joint Project Manager in the daily management of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) organization responsible for the centralized research, development, acquisition management, and joint service integration for all medical Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Systems.

Dr. Clayson collaborates with joint service, interagency, international teams of scientists, and acquisition professionals in the development, acquisition, and the fielding of Food and Drug Administration-approved CBRN medical countermeasures and diagnostics.

Born into an Army family and spending much of his early years moving from one post to another, Dr. Clayson graduated with honors from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.  During his time at Auburn, Dr. Clayson was a four-year scholarship recipient within the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.  Upon graduation as a Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps.

A few years later, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Microbiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was reassigned to the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.  Dr. Clayson is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and has earned certifications in Program Management (Level III); Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (Level III); Information Technology (Level III), Program Systems Engineer (Level II); and Test and Evaluation (Level II) career field areas.

Dr. Clayson served as an Army officer in numerous medical research assignments in the U.S. and abroad.  He has also held an appointment as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland since May 1998.  Dr. Clayson has authored or co-authored 40 articles published in scientific journals or textbooks and has been an invited speaker at several national and international meetings.

Dr. Clayson’s acquisition assignments included serving as a Product Manager or Acting Product Manager in four Product Management Offices (PMO), as well as, serving as the Deputy Project Manager in two PMOs.  Dr. Clayson retired from active duty in January 2009, and was selected as the incoming Deputy Joint Project Manager for the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office in September, 2009.

Dr. Clayson’s military awards and decorations include two awards of the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal¸ three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, two awards of the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, two awards of the Army Superior Unit Award, two awards of the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, four awards of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two awards of the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal (ISAF), and the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.

As a civilian, Dr. Clayson has also received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.  The DoD, the Army Acquisition Corps, the AMEDD, Industry, and Academia have recognized Dr. Clayson and the acquisition programs he has led with 14 professional, scientific, and leadership awards.

Dr. Clayson and his wife, Betty, live in Walkersville, Maryland.