Biosecurity

Former USAMRIID scientist reflects on time at Fort Detrick in new book

A former medical division chief for a military laboratory will spend his Valentine’s Day at the base he once called his office to promote a new book about his time at Fort Detrick.

Retired Army Col. Dr. Mark Kortepeter will sign copies of his new book, “Inside the Hot Zone,” at the Shoppette at Fort Detrick. A week later, he’ll sign copies at the Barnes and Noble at Francis Scott Key Mall.

Kortepeter, now a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, spent many years at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. One of his primary reasons for writing his book was to shed light on the work done at USAMRIID and his former colleagues who, in some cases, put their life on the line for their work, he said.

He also wanted the book to inspire younger physicians and scientists, he said.