Difference between revisions of "Ayaad Assaad"

From Wikispooks
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(import from wikipedia as is)
 
({{SMWDocs}})
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American microbiologist and toxicologist}}
+
{{person
{{BLP sources|date=March 2016}}
+
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaad_Assaad
 
+
|historycommons=
'''Ayaad Assaad''', Ph.D. (born 1948), is an American [[microbiologist]] and [[toxicologist]]. Since 1997 he has worked for the US [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] testing pesticides.<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax">{{cite web|author=Ralph R. Frerichs |url=http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/Bioter/messageanthrax.html |title=The Message in the Anthrax |website=Ph.ucla.edu |date= |accessdate=2016-03-30}}</ref>
+
|religion=
 +
|interests=
 +
|image=Ayaad Assaad.png
 +
|nationality=American
 +
|birth_date=1948
 +
|birth_place=
 +
|death_date=
 +
|death_place=
 +
|constitutes=microbiologist
 +
}}
 +
'''Ayaad Assaad''', is an American [[microbiologist]] and [[toxicologist]]. Since [[1997]] he has worked for the US [[Environmental Protection Agency]] testing pesticides.<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax">http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/Bioter/messageanthrax.html</ref>
  
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
Assaad was born in Egypt and became a naturalized US citizen in 1981. He holds a Ph.D. in [[physiology]] from [[Iowa State University]] in [[Ames, Iowa]].  His wife is from [[Nebraska]].
+
Assaad was born in [[Egypt]] and became a naturalized US citizen in [[1981]]. He holds a Ph.D. in physiology from [[Iowa State University]].
  
 
Assaad worked as a civilian research scientist at the US Army's Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases ([[USAMRIID]]), in [[Fort Detrick]], [[Maryland]] from 1989-1997.  While there, he developed a [[ricin]] vaccine.<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax"/>
 
Assaad worked as a civilian research scientist at the US Army's Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases ([[USAMRIID]]), in [[Fort Detrick]], [[Maryland]] from 1989-1997.  While there, he developed a [[ricin]] vaccine.<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax"/>
  
In 1991, when working at USAMRIID, Assaad filed a formal complaint against co-workers including Philip Zack and [[Marian Rippy]] for racial harassment.
+
===Complaint in 1991===
The USAMRIID Commander, Col. [[Ronald Williams (USAMRIID)|Ronald Williams]], investigated and ruled in Assaad's favor, singling out Zack and Rippy for leading the so-called "Camel Club" which had anonymously sent Assaad an eight-page insulting poem. According to ''Salon'' magazine: "The Army investigation documents further revealed that the two [Zack and Rippy], both married, were also having an affair."<ref name="archive.salon.com">{{cite web|url=http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2002/01/26/assaad/index_np.html |title=Fort Detrick's anthrax mystery |accessdate=October 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813003628/http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2002/01/26/assaad/index_np.html |archivedate=August 13, 2007 }}</ref> Col. Williams wrote to Assaad: "Based upon your complaint, I directed that an informal investigation be conducted. The investigation revealed that Lieutenant Colonel Zack and Dr. Rippy had participated in discriminatory behavior. On behalf of the United States of America, the Army, and this Institute, I wish to genuinely and humbly apologize for this behavior."  Both Zack and Rippy were reprimanded.  Zack left USAMRIID in December 1991, Rippy left in February 1992. Assaad stayed on until March 1997<ref>{{cite web|author=Ed Lake |url=http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/hcourant.html |title=Anthrax articles from the Hartford Courant |website=Anthraxinvestigation.com |date= |accessdate=2016-03-30}}</ref> Budget cuts there led to Assaad being laid off in March 1997, for which he sued the [[US Army]] for age and ethnic discrimination.
+
In 1991, when working at USAMRIID, Assaad filed a formal complaint against co-workers including [[Philip Zack]] and [[Marian Rippy]] for racial harassment. The USAMRIID Commander, Col. [[Ronald Williams (USAMRIID)|Ronald Williams]], investigated and ruled in Assaad's favor, singling out Zack and Rippy for leading the so-called "Camel Club" which had anonymously sent Assaad an eight-page insulting poem. According to ''[[Salon]]'' magazine: "The Army investigation documents further revealed that the two [Zack and Rippy], both married, were also having an affair."<ref name="archive.salon.com">https://web.archive.org/web/20070813003628/http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2002/01/26/assaad/index_np.html</ref> Col.
  
On October 2, 2001 (three days before the first fatality from [[anthrax]] in the 2001 domestic US [[2001 anthrax attacks|terrorism attacks]]), [[FBI]] Agent Gregory Leylegian called and asked Assaad to come in for questioning, which he did the next day. The FBI had received an anonymous letter, postmarked September 21, 2001, in which an alleged co-worker warned that Assaad might be planning a biological attack. The timing is noteworthy because anthrax-victim [[Robert Stevens (photo editor)|Robert Stevens]] was not admitted to a [[Florida]] hospital until October 2, and he was not diagnosed with anthrax until October 3. The first set of letters containing real anthrax were mailed on September 18.<ref name="archive.salon.com"/>
+
Williams wrote to Assaad: "Based upon your complaint, I directed that an informal investigation be conducted. The investigation revealed that Lieutenant Colonel Zack and Dr. Rippy had participated in discriminatory behavior. On behalf of the United States of America, the Army, and this Institute, I wish to genuinely and humbly apologize for this behavior." Both Zack and Rippy were reprimanded. Zack left USAMRIID in December 1991, Rippy left in February 1992. Assaad stayed on until March 1997<ref>http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/hcourant.html saved at [https://web.archive.org/web/20060507205357/http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/hcourant.html Archive.org] saved at [https://archive.is/lQmdm Archive.is]</ref> Budget cuts there led to Assaad being laid off in March 1997, for which he sued the [[US Army]] for age and ethnic discrimination.
  
The 212-word letter sent to the FBI was unsigned and computer-typed. It stated, in part: "Dr. Assaad is a potential biological terrorist. [...] I have worked with Dr. Assaad and I heard him say that he has a vendetta against the U.S. government and that if anything happens to him, he told his sons to carry on."  According to Assaad: "The letter-writer clearly knew my entire background, my training in both chemical and biological agents, my security clearance, what floor where I work now, that I have two sons, what train I take to work, and where I live."<ref name="archive.salon.com"/> [[Donald Foster (professor)|Don Foster]] concluded it was sent by a female officer at Ft. Detrick,<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax"/> although he did not name [[Marian Rippy]] directly.
+
===Anthrax attacks===
 +
On October 2, [[2001]] (three days before the first fatality from [[anthrax]] in the [[2001 anthrax attacks]]), [[FBI]] Agent Gregory Leylegian called and asked Assaad to come in for questioning, which he did the next day. The FBI had received an anonymous letter, postmarked September 21, 2001, in which an alleged co-worker warned that Assaad might be planning a biological attack. The timing is noteworthy because anthrax-victim, photo editor [[Robert Stevens]] was not admitted to a [[Florida]] hospital until October 2, and he was not diagnosed with anthrax until October 3. The first set of letters containing real anthrax were mailed on September 18.<ref name="archive.salon.com"/>
  
The FBI cleared Assaad of these allegations, according to Chris Murray, an FBI spokesman (as reported in ''Salon''): "We received an anonymous letter with certain allegations about Dr. Assaad. Our investigation has determined those allegations are unfounded. Our investigation is complete. Period."<ref name="archive.salon.com"/>
+
The 212-word letter sent to the [[FBI]] was unsigned and computer-typed. It stated, in part: "Dr. Assaad is a potential biological terrorist. [...] I have worked with Dr. Assaad and I heard him say that he has a vendetta against the U.S. government and that if anything happens to him, he told his sons to carry on."  According to Assaad: "The letter-writer clearly knew my entire background, my training in both chemical and biological agents, my security clearance, what floor where I work now, that I have two sons, what train I take to work, and where I live."<ref name="archive.salon.com"/> [[Donald Foster (professor)|Don Foster]] concluded it was sent by a female officer at Ft. Detrick,<ref name="The Message in the Anthrax"/> although he did not name [[Marian Rippy]] directly.
  
==See also==
+
The FBI cleared Assaad of these allegations, according to [[Chris Murray]], an FBI spokesman (as reported in ''[[Salon]]''): "We received an anonymous letter with certain allegations about Dr. Assaad. Our investigation has determined those allegations are unfounded. Our investigation is complete. Period."<ref>https://www.salon.com/2002/01/26/assaad/ saved at [https://web.archive.org/web/20121026022239/http://www.salon.com/2002/01/26/assaad/ Archive.org] saved at [https://archive.is/PQCX Archive.is]</ref>
* [[2001 anthrax attacks]]
 
  
 +
{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{authority control}}
+
{{PageCredit
 
+
|site=Wikipedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Assaad, Ayaad}}
+
|date=16 March 2021‎
[[Category:American microbiologists]]
+
|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaad_Assaad
[[Category:1948 births]]
+
}}
[[Category:Living people]]
 
[[Category:Iowa State University alumni]]
 
[[Category:People with acquired American citizenship]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:30, 17 March 2021

Person.png Ayaad Assaad  Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(microbiologist)
Ayaad Assaad.png
Born1948
NationalityAmerican

Ayaad Assaad, is an American microbiologist and toxicologist. Since 1997 he has worked for the US Environmental Protection Agency testing pesticides.[1]

Biography

Assaad was born in Egypt and became a naturalized US citizen in 1981. He holds a Ph.D. in physiology from Iowa State University.

Assaad worked as a civilian research scientist at the US Army's Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), in Fort Detrick, Maryland from 1989-1997. While there, he developed a ricin vaccine.[1]

Complaint in 1991

In 1991, when working at USAMRIID, Assaad filed a formal complaint against co-workers including Philip Zack and Marian Rippy for racial harassment. The USAMRIID Commander, Col. Ronald Williams, investigated and ruled in Assaad's favor, singling out Zack and Rippy for leading the so-called "Camel Club" which had anonymously sent Assaad an eight-page insulting poem. According to Salon magazine: "The Army investigation documents further revealed that the two [Zack and Rippy], both married, were also having an affair."[2] Col.

Williams wrote to Assaad: "Based upon your complaint, I directed that an informal investigation be conducted. The investigation revealed that Lieutenant Colonel Zack and Dr. Rippy had participated in discriminatory behavior. On behalf of the United States of America, the Army, and this Institute, I wish to genuinely and humbly apologize for this behavior." Both Zack and Rippy were reprimanded. Zack left USAMRIID in December 1991, Rippy left in February 1992. Assaad stayed on until March 1997[3] Budget cuts there led to Assaad being laid off in March 1997, for which he sued the US Army for age and ethnic discrimination.

Anthrax attacks

On October 2, 2001 (three days before the first fatality from anthrax in the 2001 anthrax attacks), FBI Agent Gregory Leylegian called and asked Assaad to come in for questioning, which he did the next day. The FBI had received an anonymous letter, postmarked September 21, 2001, in which an alleged co-worker warned that Assaad might be planning a biological attack. The timing is noteworthy because anthrax-victim, photo editor Robert Stevens was not admitted to a Florida hospital until October 2, and he was not diagnosed with anthrax until October 3. The first set of letters containing real anthrax were mailed on September 18.[2]

The 212-word letter sent to the FBI was unsigned and computer-typed. It stated, in part: "Dr. Assaad is a potential biological terrorist. [...] I have worked with Dr. Assaad and I heard him say that he has a vendetta against the U.S. government and that if anything happens to him, he told his sons to carry on." According to Assaad: "The letter-writer clearly knew my entire background, my training in both chemical and biological agents, my security clearance, what floor where I work now, that I have two sons, what train I take to work, and where I live."[2] Don Foster concluded it was sent by a female officer at Ft. Detrick,[1] although he did not name Marian Rippy directly.

The FBI cleared Assaad of these allegations, according to Chris Murray, an FBI spokesman (as reported in Salon): "We received an anonymous letter with certain allegations about Dr. Assaad. Our investigation has determined those allegations are unfounded. Our investigation is complete. Period."[4]


Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References

Wikipedia.png This page imported content from Wikipedia on 16 March 2021‎.
Wikipedia is not affiliated with Wikispooks.   Original page source here