Rick G. Hunter, PhD
EXPERIENCE:
9/01 to Present: President and Chief Executive Officer, Food Technology Service, Inc., Mulberry, FL
Duties: Manage a NASDAQ-listed company with a market capitalization of approximately $10 million that is a leader in the sterilization of medical products in Florida. The company also has a significant presence in irradiation of food and packaging to prevent food-borne illness. Duties involve supervision of sales and marketing, production, facility maintenance, human resources, financial management, investor relations, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. Significant effort devoted to the customer service and quality aspects of the irradiation process and the company successfully achieved certification to ISO 13485 requirements in 2005.
3/95 to 9/01: Deputy State Health Officer, Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL
Duties: Responsible for the day-to-day management of all public health programs in Florida. Major programs included maternal and child health, school health, nutrition, pharmacy and lab services, indigent health care, STD, HIV/AIDS, refugee health, immunizations, environmental health and epidemiology. The programs operated through the 67 county health departments and the director of each department reported to me. I had a total staff of over 11,000 with an annual budget of approximately $1 billion. I set policy, provided guidance and resolved problems. Most duties related to planning and implementing disease prevention programs, budget management, and the linkage of outcome measures to program activities and funding. Significant involvement in the legislative and budgetary processes and in managing large, state-wide studies.
3/89 to 3/95: Assistant State Health Officer for Environmental Health and Statewide Services, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
Duties: Managed all environmental health programs, the statewide laboratory system and the emergency medical services program in Florida's public health agency. These functions had a combined annual budget of $44 million and a staff of 550. Many of these programs regulated activities including food service establishments, analytical laboratories, biomedical waste generators, and public water suppliers. Other programs investigated cancer clusters and similar public concerns regarding the potential health effects of manufacturing emissions, industrial activities and hazardous waste sites. Staff developed and operated a geographical information system that linked health status, environmental conditions and locale, resulting in extensive experience in evaluating health risks and communicating findings to the media and citizens groups.
10/85 to 3/89: Director, Environmental Health Division, Wichita-Sedgwick County Health Department
Wichita, KS 67214
Duties: Directed a local environmental health program responsible for air quality, surface and groundwater quality, solid and hazardous wastes, on-site wastewater treatment, community sanitation and food service in a metropolitan area of about 350,000. Supervised 46 employees and administered a budget of $1.3 million consisting of a combination of city and county government funds, state and federal grants and fees. Duties included serving on a regional emergency response planning board and membership on the local hazardous materials response command team. Extensive involvement with multi-disciplinary health fairs and other educational efforts aimed at injury prevention and health awareness. Worked closely with a nine-member Board of Health appointed by local elected officials and with citizen groups concerned about housing conditions and environmental factors. Extensive coordination with State and Federal agencies on a variety of public health issues.
1/82 to 10/85: Environmental Specialist, Tulsa District Corps of Engineers
Tulsa, OK 74121
Duties: Designed and managed programs to attain environmental compliance at Defense installations in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The majority of these facilities had long histories of aircraft and missile maintenance, or had manufactured chemical munitions for several decades. Developed expertise in the chemical composition, decontamination, and destruction of chemical agents. Knowledgable in field and laboratory analytical methods and protective measures relating to hazardous chemical mixtures. Conducted risk assessments relating to the health effects of environmental contaminants using a variety of toxicological databases. Negotiated proposed plans with the EPA and state agencies, prepared scopes of service and managed large contracts for research activities.
10/78 to 1/82: Biologist, Tulsa District Corps of Engineers
Duties: Planned and conducted water quality investigations in a four-state region. Designed and scheduled investigations, collected data using sophisticated field instruments and analyzed that data using computerized statistical packages. Wrote reports detailing the suitability of the water for drinking, industrial, and recreational use and made recommendations relating to construction and operation of large reservoirs. Briefed senior management, scientific advisory panels, and citizen groups on water quality issues. Maintained the section's computerized data storage systems and managed the group's environmental laboratory. Also served as an expert for the Corps and Oklahoma government on the potential health effects of widespread chemical contamination relating to polychlorinated biphenyls and mining wastes.
8/73 to 10/78: Biologist, State of Kansas
Topeka, KS
Duties: Responsible for aquatic resource management and research within a section of northeast Kansas. This was an entry-level job that provided experience in environmental studies.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health – May 1989 from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK.
Master of Public Administration - December 1983 from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.
Master of Science - May 1982 from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
Bachelor of Science - May 1973 from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Adjunct Professor, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 2008-Present. I teach courses related to the regulatory and quality assurance aspects of medical device manufacturing.
Member, Board of Directors, Florida Center for Universal Research to Eradicate Disease, 2005-Present. This group was established by the Florida legislature to coordinate biomedical research among State Universities and private industry.
Chair, Food Irradiation Processing Alliance, 2005-Present. I am the elected chair of this organization, which functions as a trade-association for food irradiation service providers and manufacturers of irradiators.
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Florida Public Health Foundation, 2002-Present. This non-profit foundation fosters partnerships among private foundations, corporations, government agencies and universities in order to benefit the health of Florida’s citizens and visitors.
Member, Dean’s Advisory Board, University of South Florida College of Public Health, 2002-Present.
Honoree, Florida A&M University established the Richard G. Hunter Distinguished Lecture in Public Health Practice in 2001.
Adjunct Professor, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 2002-Present. I serve as faculty for the AMA Basic Disaster Life Support course which is taught to physicians, nurses and emergency responders throughout Florida.
Lifetime Appreciation Award, 2001, awarded by the University of South Florida College of Medicine and the Tampa General Hospital Infectious Disease Center.
Billy G. Tennant Award for Contributions to the Environmental Health Profession, 1999, awarded by the Florida Environmental Health Association.
Adjunct Professor, Institute of Public Health, Florida A&M University, 1999-Present.
Member, National Academy of Science Committee to Review the New York City Watershed Management Strategy, 1997-1999. This panel conducted a two-year study of a proposal by New York City to strengthen watershed management practices to prevent waterborne disease.
Distinguished Equal Employment Opportunity Award, 1997, by the State of Florida. Recognized for accomplishments and philosophy of promoting the principles of EEO and affirmative action.
Member, Advisory Committee on Implementing a School of Public Health at Florida A&M University, 1996-present. This committee was established to guide a historically black university in establishing a School of Public Health that focuses on minority health issues.
Adjunct Professor, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 1996-Present.
Representative (Gubernatorial Appointment), U.S. Department of Energy's State and Tribal Government Working Group, 1993-1997.
Member (Gubernatorial Appointment), Florida Keys Resource Planning and Management Committee, 1991-1996.
Commissioner (Gubernatorial Appointment), Southeast Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, 1990-2005. I served as the elected Chairman of the Compact for approximately 2 years.
Member, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Gulf of Mexico Public Health Subcommittee, 1990-1997.
Member, Florida Coordinating Council on Radon, 1989-1996.
Member, Florida Interagency Coastal Management Zone Committee, 1989-1995.
Member, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Advisory Board, 1986-89.
Federal Employee of the Year, 1985, awarded by the Tulsa Federal Executive's Association.
Employee of the Year, 1984, by the Tulsa District, Corps of Engineers.
Letter of Commendation, 1984, from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for successful disposal of 35,000 drums of hazardous waste generated from nerve agent decommissioning at an Army arsenal.
Sustained Superior Performance Award, 1982, awarded by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers.
Member, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's STORET (computerized database) Advisory Board, 1982.
Member, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Panel of Experts, Symposium on the Health Effects of PCBs, 1982.
1980 Water Conservationist of the Year, awarded by the Oklahoma and National Wildlife Federations.
Outstanding Performance Award, 1980, awarded by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers.
Member, Oklahoma Governor's Task Force on PCB Contamination, 1979-81.
PUBLICATIONS:
Hunter, R.G. and R.G. Brooks. 2000. Food irradiation and the medical community – supporting a new tool to prevent food-borne illness. Jour. Agromedicine 6:45-57.
National Research Council. 1999. Watershed Management for Potable Water Supply. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. 549 pp.
Safay, O., Hughes, B., Heber, S., Hunter, R. and R. Brooks. 1999. Aerial application of Malathion. MMWR.
Hunter, R.G. and T. Buckner. 1997. Status of low-level radioactive waste disposal in the Southeast compact region. In, Proceedings: 1997 EPRI International Low Level Waste Conference, Providence, RI. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA. 724 pp
Hunter, R.G. 1997. Public Health Next Door: Florida. In, Proceedings: Governor’s Conference on the Future of Public Health in Kentucky, Louisville, KY. Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services, Louisville, KS. 208 pp.
Hunter, R.G. and T. Buckner. 1996. Status of low-level radioactive waste disposal in the Southeast compact region. In, Proceedings: 1996 EPRI International Low Level Waste Conference, New Orleans, LA. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA. 697 pp.
Hunter, R.G. 1988. A comparison of anaerobic processes for treatment of ethanol stillage. Ph.D. Dissertation, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. 129 pp.
Hunter, R.G., J.H. Carroll, and J.C. Staves. 1985. Estimation of community metabolism in a polluted stream using the Velz oxygen model. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 65: 19-23.
Hunter, R.G. 1984. An overview of reservoir water quality concerns and techniques of investigation; In, Applications in Water Quality Control. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC. 221 pp.
Hunter, R.G. and J.H. Carroll. 1984. Impact of historic water quality release schedules on water availability; In, 21st Century Water Needs; Will It Be There? Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. 261 pp.
Hunter, R.G. and J.H. Carroll. 1984. Water quality management decisions on two Oklahoma streams. Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation 56: 274-280.
Hunter, R.G. 1984. Managerial professionalism in state fish and wildlife agencies; A survey of duties, attitudes and needs. Fisheries 9: 6-15.
Hunter, R.G. and J. Wilhm. 1984. Use of nephelometric turbidity to calculate Carlson's trophic state index in Keystone Lake, Oklahoma. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 4: 475-485.
Hunter, R.G. 1983. Managerial professionalism in state fish and wildlife agencies; A survey of duties, attitudes and needs. M.P.A. Thesis, Oklahoma University, Norman, OK. 61 pp.
Hunter, R.G. and J.H. Carroll. 1982. Chlorophenoxy herbicide residues in fishes and sediments of Lake Texoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 62: 34-37.
Hunter, R.G. 1982. The relationships among photosynthetically active radiation, secchi disc transparency, chlorophyll a, and phosphorus in Keystone Lake. M.S. Thesis, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. 47 pp.
Carroll, J.H., J.C. Randolph, and R.G. Hunter. 1982. Community metabolism in a Southeast Oklahoma mountain stream. Southwestern Naturalist 27: 274-276.
Hunter, R.G. 1982. Environmental effects of polychlorinated biphenyls: Important ecological aspects; In, Advances in Exposure, Health, and Environmental Effects Studies of PCBs. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA. 356 pp.
Hunter, R.G., J.H. Carroll, and J. Butler. 1981. The relationship of trophic level to arsenic burden in fish of a Southern Great Plains Lake. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 1: 42-48.
Hunter, R.G., J.C. Randolph, and J.H. Carroll. 1980. Polychlorinated biphenyls in the sediments and fish of an Oklahoma stream. Environmental Pollution 1: 233-240.
Hunter, R.G., J.H. Carroll, and J.C. Randolph. 1980. Organochlorine residues in fish of Lake Texoma, October 1979. Pesticides Monitoring Journal 14: 102-107.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Have made numerous invited presentations relating to public health issues. A list of the most significant is available on request.
