James Polk

Dr. J.D. Polk is the Chief Health and Medical Care Officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) located in Washington, D.C. He began serving in this position in November 2016. Dr. Polk is the former Dean of Medicine for Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to his work at Des Moines University, Dr. Polk was the Assistant Secretary (Acting) for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), assuming this post after serving as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Before coming to DHS, Dr. Polk was the Chief of Space Medicine for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He is the former State Emergency Medical Services Medical Director for the State of Ohio, and former Chief of Metro Life Flight in Cleveland, Ohio. He has served on the board of directors for the Red Cross of Greater Iowa, the board of directors of ChildServe of Iowa, t