Colonel Shannon Lacy assumed directorship of WRAIR-Africa in July 2021. Dr. Lacy was raised on a small dairy farm in New York state, earned his BS from Cornell University, and commissioned in the Army after completing his DVM at the University of Wisconsin. He holds an MPH from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and a PhD in Molecular Toxicology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He completed residency in Veterinary Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and is dual specialty board certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

His previous military assignments include Commander, 72^nd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Director, Division of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland; Chief of Education, DoD Veterinary Pathology Residency Program, Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, Maryland; Surgical Team Leader, Deputy Commander, and Commander, 51^st Medical Detachment (Veterinary Medicine), Pulaski Barracks, Germany; and Clinical Intern and Staff Veterinarian, DoD Military Working Dog Veterinary Service, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Colonel Lacy holds a graduate certificate in Global Health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Intermediate Level Education Common Core, and has attended the Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) and Army Battalion Pre-Command Courses, Army Tactical Commanders Development Program, AMEDD Executive Skills Course, USDA Plum Island Foreign Animal Disease Course, Tropical Medicine Course, Combat Casualty Care, and AMEDD Captains Career and Officer Basic Courses.

Dr. Lacy holds the Army Surgeon General’s “9A” Proficiency Designator in Comparative Pathology, additional skill identifiers in Medical Research and Development (8Z) and Acquisitions Engineering and Technical Management (Foundational, 8X), and is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3). His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Jointer Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal. He also holds the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold) and the Expert Field Medical Badge.

Shannon enjoys travel, outdoor activities, the beach, fitness, music, pursuit of knowledge, meeting new people, and spending quality time with family and friends.