Robert Kadlec

Robert Kadlec
Official portrait
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs
Assumed office
December 29, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDeborah Rosenblum
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Preparedness and Response
In office
August 18, 2017 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byGeorge Korch (Acting)
Succeeded byNikki Bratcher-Bowman (Acting)
Dawn O’Connell
Personal details
Bornapprox. 1957
PartyRepublican
EducationUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (MD)
Georgetown University (MS)

Robert Peter Kadlec (/ˈkædlɪk/ KAD-lik) is an American physician and career officer in the United States Air Force who served as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (Preparedness and Response) from August 2017 until January 2021. He is responsible for the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine development program Operation Warp Speed. He currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs.