Ricardo Echalar

Ricardo Echalar is a recognized global health security and One Health leader and subject matter expert. Most recently, Mr. Echalar spearheaded regional global health security and health emergencies engagement for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) while based in Nairobi, Kenya. He actively collaborated with partner governments, regional bodies, multilateral agencies, and the private sector across the Africa region to implement and strengthen technical programming. He is an epidemiologist with over 20 years of experience, designing and overseeing U.S. and international programs focused on infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response, national security, and foreign affairs. Mr. Echalar provided critical technical leadership during multiple response efforts, including the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, Ebola, Marburg, Mpox, pneumonic plague, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has leveraged this deep technical experience across roles with USAID, NGOs, and WHO/PAHO, managing programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. He actively serves as a technical expert on global advisory groups and engages extensively with multilateral institutions and global health actors.