Dr. John N. Nkengasong is a Cameroonian-American virologist serving as the Global AIDS Coordinator in the Biden administration since 2022 and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy since 2023. He previously worked as the Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention from 2016 to 2022, as well as at the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nkengasong was appointed the WHO Special Envoy for Africa.

In 1993, Nkengasong joined the World Health Organization, where he served as Chief of Virology.He was based in the Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS Diagnostics in the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp. He has worked on the diagnosis, pathogenesis and drug resistance of HIV/AIDS

In 2011, Nkengasong helped to establish the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).[8] The ASLM looks to support African researchers in developing their laboratory medicine capabilities and ability to care for patients.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nkengasong was appointed a special envoy to the director general of the World Health Organization. He led Africa’s response to coronavirus disease, including training a team of young responders; the African Healthcare Volunteer Workforce.

In 2016, Nkengasong joined the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as its inaugural Director. At the Africa CDC, Nkengasong oversaw the Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Networks (RISLNET) with a focus on empowering local leadership.

On August 1, 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken chose Nkengasong to lead the newly formed Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD), focused on coordinating international responses to infectious diseases.