Group Leader, Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation
Group Leader, Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation

Biography

Kabrena Rodda is the group leader of Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation that supports the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Technologies Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). As a forensic toxicologist, Rodda leads PNNL’s capability strategy to combat emerging chemical threats.

Prior to PNNL, Rodda served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. During that time, she managed a $30M nonproliferation program, advised on chemical issues at the National Counterproliferation Center, and commanded at the detachment, squadron, and group levels before retiring as a colonel. She was a United Nations special commission inspector and laboratory chief in Iraq in 1995 and 1998 and advised Australian officials on consequence management in preparation for the Sydney Olympics. 

In 2012, Rodda published a policy paper against synthetic drugs titled, “Legal Highs: U.S. Policy for the New Pandemic”. In 2017 and 2018, she led chemical threat response workshops at the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and headed the writing team for the American Chemical Society policy statement, “Preventing the Reemergence of Chemical Weapons.”

Rodda is a recipient of the OPCW Director General’s Medal, the Secretary of Energy Appreciation Award, and the Secretary of the United States Air Force R&D Award.

Disciplines and Skills

  • Chemistry
  • Multi-drug interactions
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Forensic and analytical toxicology

Education

  • PhD in medicine, Monash University, 2002
  • MS in national security strategy, National Defense University, 2012
  • MS in chemistry, University of Washington, 1997
  • MS in project and systems management, Golden Gate University–San Francisco, 1995
  • BS in chemistry, United States Air Force Academy, 1992

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Member of the American Chemical Society International Activities Committee
  • Member of the American Academy of Forensic Science
  • Member of the International Society for the Study of Emerging Drugs