John Mark Carter earned his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Florida in 1987. He then post-docked at Walter Reed and served as a Company Commander during Operation Desert Storm. He founded and worked with several biotech start-ups, especially in his early career. In 2004 Dr. Carter went to work for USDA as a Research Leader in ARS, where his Foodborne Contaminants Research unit developed methods for detection of pathogens and toxins in food. After 12 years he moved to FSIS, where he served for 3 years a Senior Microbiologist. In June of 2020, he moved to NIFA, where he now serves as Division Director for Food Safety.