Medical Countermeasures: Putting the Warfighter First

Employee Spotlight: Chris Badorrek

As a principal technical advisor at LMI, Chris Badorrek serves as a site supervisor and an assay/analytics specialist and process advisor to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPEO CBRN Medical) at Fort Detrick. Chris has deep expertise in process development and current goods manufacturing for vaccines and therapeutics; DNA, RNA, and protein chemistry and modeling; bacteriology; retrovirology; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive sensor and device development; and novel materials for detection of chemical analytes.

What are you responsible for as a principal technical advisor at LMI?

I serve as a site supervisor and an assay/analytics specialist and process advisor to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Medical (JPEO CBRN Medical).

How long have you been with LMI?

I officially joined LMI in March 2019, after it acquired The Tauri Group. I have supported the JPEO CBRN Medical contract since 2014.

What made you want to continue working for LMI after the acquisition of The Tauri Group?

The ability to work with an amazing team of individuals with diverse professional backgrounds. It is a pleasure to continue to serve with this team and support the JPEO CBRN Medical mission.

What synergies do you see between LMI and the way the Army operates?

The Army and LMI are problem-solvers and have set up tiered operational structures to help drive decision-making.

Who have been your most influential professional mentors?

LMI’s director of defense health, Nathan Sanders, and a former leader at LMI, John David. Nathan and John really look out for their teams and provide endless support and guidance on their professional growth. When it comes to my government clients, I would say Dr. Kevin Wingerd and the JPEO CBRN Medical community. The critical work done at CBRN Medical, which tackles the need for FDA-approved medical countermeasure solutions for warfighters, is a tough challenge that requires a wholly committed, large team effort to overcome while maintaining the delicate balance between cost, schedule, and performance. Interacting daily with so many wonderful military, civilian, and contractor personnel from diverse backgrounds that support all aspects of government acquisition (leadership, program management, finance, technical, regulatory and quality, etc.) has been highly influential and educational in my professional growth.

How are you bringing innovative solutions that change the government to your everyday work?

By remembering to never panic and recognize that there is always a dynamic shift in some things that can change and things that cannot, so we must maintain situational awareness to know the difference and trust our decisions. When problems arise and innovative solutions are needed, customers look for the necessary team of people, processes, and tools to assist. This is one of LMI’s greatest strengths. Our team supporting the CBRN Medical customer has a broad technical and regulatory/quality background that has enabled us to put the right people, processes, and tools in place to support product pipelines and their eventual FDA licensure.

What aspect of your experience or expertise helps provide effective services to your clients?

I have worn many hats (e.g., program manager, technical lead, advisor, support technician) and have experienced the government contracting process for a variety of technical products (detectors, diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, etc.) from start to finish from both the contract performer as well as the client perspective across government agencies. Having this experience and insight has been instrumental for me in helping LMI and our clients quickly identify root causes of problems, thereby leading to short- and long-term solutions.