“A lot of optimism is swirling around a 12- to 18-month time frame, if everything goes perfectly. We’ve never seen everything go perfectly. My concern is that if we rush too quickly and consider cutting out critical steps, we may not have a full assessment of the safety of that vaccine.”
—Rick Bright, DHHS former top U.S. vaccine official (a scientist) recently demoted by the Trump administration after filing a whistleblower complaint, testifying before, testifying before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health.
“I’ve watched all of this a little while ago. It seemed like everyone who was beating up on Dr. Bright was a Republican and everyone who was defending him was a Democrat. I’m a Republican, I voted for President Trump and I admire Dr. Bright. I don’t know what he did in all of the other activities, but I think what he said made a lot of sense, and I believe him. I’m a lifelong Republican, and I’m embarrassed by how that’s (America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic) been handled. Like Rick Bright said, it’s the scientists we need to be listening to, and we’re not.”
—Mike Bowen, co-owner of Prestige Ameritech, the country’s last full-line medical mask manufacturer, took his place at the witness table and recounted how he had offered to HHS to ramp up production of N95 masks in January, but his plan was cast aside.
“I don’t know the so-called whistleblower Rick Bright, never met or even heard of him, but to me, he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government.”
—Donald Trump, responding as he always—ALWAYS—does to any criticism or disagreement with his half-baked theories or lies, again governing by tweet, on May 14, 2020. [No exceptions, nay, not one. Go back and review every official, former employee, or expert in their given field and read what he says upon their firing or upon their public disagreement with the Tangerine Toddler. Invariably, they’re either “losers,” “weak,” “disgruntled,” or someone he “never heard of” and “doesn’t know.”]
“Maybe the fact that you didn’t know or even hear of the person in charge of biomedical research for your Administration in the midst of a global health pandemic is part of the reason why we’re quickly approaching 100,000 deaths in this country.”
—U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, III (D-Mass.), in a response tweet (apparently the only way to get through to Le Grosse Orange), May 14, 2020.
Louisiana Voice 
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us pray.
From Wikipedia:
Bright received a Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) in 1997 with a double-major in Biology (medical technology) and Physical Science (chemistry) from Auburn University-Montgomery. In 2002, Bright earned a Ph.D. in immunology and molecular pathogenesis (virology) from the Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.
From 1998 to 2002, Bright worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, in the Influenza Branch, Immunology and Viral Pathogenesis Section, where he studied Influenza A virus subtype H5N1.
From 2002 to 2003, Bright shifted to working at the pharmaceutical company, Altea Therapeutics (a subsidiary of Nitto Denko) in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was a senior research scientist in their Vaccine and Immunology Programs.
In 2003, Bright rejoined the CDC as an immunologist/virologist in their Disease Control and Prevention, Influenza Division, Strain Surveillance Branch in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked on their influenza antiviral drug program and focused on avian influenza. He held that position until 2006.
From 2006 to 2008, Bright returned to working in the private sector of the biotechnology industry at Novavax in Maryland, where he was vice president of their global influenza programs as well as of their vaccine research and development. During this time, he participated in World Health Organization committees on vaccine development and pandemic preparedness.
In February 2008, Bright worked at the non-profit PATH on a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant funded project as the director in vaccine manufacturing capacity building in Viet Nam. He was also the scientific director of the influenza vaccine project as well as the global vaccine development program, a position he held until October 2010.
In 2010, Bright joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) governmental agency Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). He was the program lead of BARDA International Programs, then in June 2011 became acting chief of the influenza antiviral drug advanced development program, a position he held until December 2011. From June 2011 to December 2015, he was both deputy director and acting director of BARDA’s Influenza and Emerging Diseases Division, eventually serving as director of the division from December 2014 to November 2016. From February 2016 to November 2016, he was an incident commander in the ASPR/BARDA Zika Response.
On November 15, 2016, President Obama appointed Bright to the position of Director of BARDA. Bright succeeded founding director Robin Robinson. In addition to his role as Director of BARDA, Bright was also Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
SO WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS GUY KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING?
Unfortunately Wikipedia does not include the one variable that Trump regards above all others in this impressive list of Dr. Brights accomplishments; how he voted. Because if he disagree’s with someone, their political choices (however obscure) will become the catalyst for a character assassination.