Dr. Jo Velardo has a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from University of Dayton, an A.S. from the Physician Assistant program of the Cuyahoga Community College, a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Pharmacology from University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and a Systems Engineering Certificate from Stevens Institute of Technology. She has served as the Director of the University of Florida Spinal Cord Injury and Regeneration Laboratory and as an Assistant Research Professor of Neuroscience with adjuncts in the Genetics Institute and the Cancer Center. Other career experience includes pharmaceutical and medical device product liability analysis and emergency medical practice. Her homeland security related research focus is on the effects of CBRNE on human health, particularly the neurological, psychological effects; and on short- and long-term environmental effects.