James G. Mann, Ph.D.

United States Army · How to become an Army entomologist

Current assignment: Brigade Medical Operations Officer.

Previous assignment: Entomology Project Officer

• Public health oversight. Served as the primary subject-matter expert on vector-borne disease and applied ecology for a population of more than 500,000 service members.
• Rapid mission response. Led ecological response missions and assessments targeting invasive species and emerging biosecurity threats, including malaria, Oropouche, and dengue virus.
• Advanced diagnostics. Directed viral surveillance using molecular techniques for rapid identification and public health risk mitigation across 20 eastern U.S. installations, including Puerto Rico and Cuba.
• Strategic consulting. Advised senior military commanders on applied ecological management and biosecurity, translating complex environmental data into actionable public health policy.

Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort Meade, Maryland

• Commanded a company, directly leading more than 150 medical soldiers.

United States Army, Medical Service Corps

• Servant leadership managing medical and public health operations.

Baylor University (R1), Waco, TX · Arthropod Sensory Biology & Neuroethology Lab (Pitts Lab)

• Managed large-scale mosquito species record efforts across Texas, identifying the first occurrence of invasive Aedes japonicus in the state and characterizing blood-feeding preferences of vector species.
• Developed a CRISPR-Cas12 method for arbovirus detection, supported by custom bioinformatics (PrimedSherlock).

Baylor University (R1), Waco, TX

• Taught undergraduate biology courses including Modern Concepts I & II, Introductory Microbiology, Mammalogy, and Senior Research Seminar.
• Led laboratory sections with hands-on instruction in microbiological and molecular techniques.
• Curriculum design. Built Blackboard and Canvas course curricula and led the move of course materials to online platforms during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Undergraduate mentorship. Advised undergraduate researchers on molecular bloodmeal host identification and viral identification with a heavy bioinformatics approach; three mentees placed into competitive R1 Ph.D. programs.

Baylor University & Texas Department of State Health Services

• Designed and presented specialized lectures on viral identification techniques and invasive species identification.