Jean-Paul Chretien

Jean-Paul (JP) Chretien is Director of the Big-if-True Science (BiTS) Accelerator at Renaissance Philanthropy.

Previously JP served 20 years on active duty in the US Navy as a physician-scientist. Most recently he was a program manager in DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, initiating and leading complex multi-institution efforts to develop life-saving medical technologies, including DARPA's first medical grand challenge, the DARPA Triage Challenge.

Before DARPA, JP headed the Department of Defense Pandemic Warning Team when COVID-19 emerged, leading Intelligence Community analysis to support critical operational decisions across global DoD forces; coordinated inter-agency policy and programming as Senior Policy Advisor for Biodefense at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; oversaw health protection for tens of thousands of US Marines and NATO personnel in Afghanistan; and led DoD global partnerships for emerging infectious disease preparedness.

JP graduated from the US Naval Academy, where he was a Truman Scholar, and received his MD, PhD (epidemiology), and MHS (biostatistics) from Johns Hopkins. He received the Skelton Award for Public Service from the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, was named one of 13 Innovators Shaping the Future of Health by Fortune, and is a member in the Council on Foreign Relations.