Employee Spotlight: John Bogdan, Principal, Biology

John Bogdan, LMI biology principal, is a widely recognized leader and subject matter expert in vaccines and therapeutics for infectious disease. He leads in health sciences community of practice forums where he presents on highly relevant infectious disease topics of medical importance to the United States military, the U.S. people, and the world. John assisted in advancing and licensing three vaccines and one therapeutic. Discover how his love of science links his professional career of solving complex problems to his personal life and even as he mentors aspiring science students.

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What has been your experience with LMI and its culture?

I simply love it. It’s been one of the best experiences in my life. Where else can you get paid to give good, sound advice to the government based on all your experiences?

What’s the most unique part about working here?

As a principal in biology, I consult on scientific problems with the government client while assisting in developing proposals for LMI for additional contracts in the health sciences field. This opportunity enables me to leverage my scientific and business skills in writing proposals, and reviewing, negotiating, and managing contracts. I also introduce companies to LMI as potential partners.

What parts of our mission do you connect with?

I relate best to solving tough problems for our clients and leading them to the best possible path forward to protect the warfighter and our country.

What aspect of your experience/expertise helps provide innovative solutions to clients?

My in-depth knowledge of product development against infectious disease spans 35 years and cuts across viruses, bacteria, and toxins for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to protect and treat children and adults.

What are you responsible for as a Principal, Biology at LMI?

As a principal in biology, I am a widely recognized leader and subject matter expert in vaccines and therapeutics for infectious disease and offer significant thought leadership to health science, proactively supporting projects and initiatives from Forge™ and our fellows, assisting in capture management, acting as a solution architect for proposals and opportunities, adding value for a diverse portfolio of clients, engaging with market leads and business development to share ideas and innovations, investigating emerging market trends and opportunities, promoting LMI services, helping senior leaders grow their portfolios, and uncovering trends in the marketplace to develop responses. I am active in the health sciences community of practice forums and have presented on several topics of medical importance for the United States military, the U.S. people, and the world.

Why did you choose LMI? 

I joined LMI as a senior consultant in 2019 to advise on a monoclonal antibody product development project to prevent and treat exposure to botulinum neurotoxin. The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) is advancing its advance development to licensure.

What do you see as your greatest accomplishments, both professionally and personally?

Professionally, I have developed three licensed vaccines for infants, adults, and the elderly and one licensed therapeutic for biodefense. Plus, I have trained students and presented, published, and patented my work. Personally, I am a parent to three daughters. One is a researcher at UTHealth Houston using RNA technology to prevent congenital diseases. My younger twin girls are in high school playing sports and aspiring to be a veterinarian and a dermatologist. My wife is an intensive care unit nurse and has cared for hundreds of COVID-19 patients. Sometimes, I talk about careers in science to students at high schools and universities, which is cool.

Who inspires you and why?

My dad because, as a mason, he was the hardest worker I have ever known in my life. He left a legacy of all the houses and buildings that he built in my hometown. He worked hard and played hard and instilled in me the value of being humble and kind.

How have you grown professionally while on our team?

Continuous learning through some tremendous scientific and corporate activities, such as working on our COVID-19 response, receiving a Luminary Award in 2021 and several awards at JPEO CBRND, including a 2021 Edison Award, and winning proposals for LMI.

Are there any favorite organizations that you support or volunteer with (or have in the past)?

Knights of Columbus, St. John Westminster Adult Choir, Westminster Cold Weather Shelter, Westminster Jaycees and Charles Carroll Softball Associations, Westminster Soccer Association, National Institutes of Health Speakers Bureau, Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE) House Corporation, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Association and Office of Recruitment, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, and Lead America

Do you have any publications you have authored that you want to highlight?

• Bogdan, JA, Yuan, W, Long-Rowe, KO, Sarwar, J, Brucker, EA and MS Blake.  Identification of peptides that mimic the pertussis toxin (Ptx) binding site on bovine fetuin.  Appl. Env. Microbiol.  69:6272-6279, 2003.
• Bogdan JA, Minetti CASA and Blake MS.  A One-step Method for Genetic Transformation of Non-piliated Neisseria meningitidis.  J. Microbiol. Meth. 49:97-101, 2002.
• Bogdan, JA, Nazario-Larrieu, J, Sarwar, J, Alexander, P, and MS Blake.  Bordetella pertussis auto-regulates pertussis toxin production through the metabolism of cysteine. Infect. Immun.  69:6823-6830, 2001.
• Bogdan JA, Adams-Burton C, Pedicord DL, Sukovich DA, Benfield PA, Corjay MH, Stoltenborg JK, Dicker IB.  Human carbon catabolite repressor protein (CCR4)-associative factor 1: cloning, expression and characterization of its interaction with the B-cell translocation protein BTG1.  Biochem. J., 336:471-481, 1998.
• Bogdan, JA and Apicella, MA.  Mapping a surface-exposed conformational epitope of the P6 protein of Haemophilus influenzae.  Infect. Immun.  63:4395-4401, 1995.

My in-depth knowledge of product development against infectious disease spans 35 years and cuts across viruses, bacteria, and toxins for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to protect and treat children and adults.