2025 Scowcroft Institute Pandemic Policy Summit

Summit Dates:
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Student Simulation - tentative

Monday, October 27, 2025
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, October 28, 2025
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Summit Location:
Annenberg Presidential Conference Center
1002 George Bush Dr W
College Station, TX 77843

Summit Background:
The intricate web of supply chain and logistics forms the crucial backbone for effective pandemic policy and preparedness. During a pandemic, the ability to rapidly and reliably source, transport, and distribute essential goods such as personal protective equipment (PPE), testing kits, ventilators, and eventually vaccines, becomes paramount. Disruptions in this system, whether due to production halts, transportation bottlenecks, or shortages in warehousing and labor, can severely hinder public health responses, leading to shortages of critical supplies for healthcare workers and the general population.

Robust supply chain and logistics strategies are therefore integral to pandemic preparedness. This includes diversifying sourcing to avoid reliance on single suppliers or regions, building resilient transportation networks, establishing strategic reserves of essential goods, and developing agile systems that can adapt to sudden surges in demand or unexpected disruptions. Furthermore, effective policies must address potential trade restrictions, ensure the designation of logistics as an essential service, and promote the use of technology for enhanced visibility and coordination across the supply chain. Ultimately, a well-prepared supply chain and logistics framework is not just an operational necessity but a fundamental pillar of national security and public health during a pandemic.

Summit Aims:

• Create a forum to discuss the post-pandemic operational context (i.e., regional epidemic, post-pandemic) and use this as the lens to consider current and future preparedness and response efforts for a pandemic.
• Discuss the challenges associated with supply chains and distribution, including the “last mile” channels during a pandemic.
• Explore and discuss best practices around supply chains and logistics that promote global health security for future pandemics.
• Create a forum in which industry, academia, and government can conceptualize policy interventions for future pandemics that improve the resilience supply chains.
• Facilitate a multilateral summit for policy professionals from industry, government (i.e., federal, state, and local) public health and healthcare, emergency / disaster preparedness, veterinary medicine, and agriculture can openly discuss current pandemic supply chain and logistics policy-related issues.
• Identify and drive action on the top three to five priorities to enhance the resilience of the supply chain, logistics, and national security with future pandemics.
• Generate connections and ideas to inform a white paper.

Summit Agenda:
TBA

Summit Registration:
Registration will open soon. Please check back for updates.

Event Contact Information:
Jason Moats
Director, USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness
jbmoats@tamu.edu
979.436.9472

Monica Holder
Assistant Director, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
m-holder@tamu.edu 
979.458.6992

Notice of photography, audio, and video recording
Photography, audio, and video recording may be in progress during this event. By entering this event, you consent to such recording of your likeness by Texas A&M University and its affiliates, including photographers, videographers, and/or approved media outlets, as well as publication, reproduction, and promotional use by the university and its affiliates in perpetuity. If you do not agree with the above statement, please do not enter this location.

Summit Sponsors