Professional Affiliation

Former Assistant Administrator, USAID

Expert Bio

Tim Ziemer was the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) at USAID. From April 2017 to July 2018, Ziemer was appointed by President Trump to be the Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the National Security Council. In June 2006, Ziemer was nominated by President Bush to lead the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). The PMI is a historic initiative to control malaria in Africa and is a collaborative U.S. Government effort led by USAID in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Department of State, White House, and others.

Admiral Ziemer was Executive Director of World Relief, an organization that provides disaster response, community development, child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS, agricultural assistance, and microcredit programs in over 30 countries. Ziemer completed a 30-year career in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator and commanded several squadrons, air wings and naval stations. He also commanded the Mid-Atlantic Region which is responsible for supporting the world’s largest fleet concentration which includes 110 ships, 275 aircraft and over 105,000 personnel. During his service, he served as Deputy Director for Operations on the Joint Staff and was responsible for planning and response for crisis operations at the National Military Command Center. Admiral Ziemer was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and raised in Asia, the son of missionary parents serving in Vietnam. After college, he joined the Navy, completed flight school, and returned to Vietnam during the war where he flew 550 combat sorties in support of the Navy Seals and riverine forces. Ziemer holds a degree in History from Wheaton College in Illinois, an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Georgetown University, and served as a Senior Fellow at the Naval War College National Security Strategic Studies Group.