Who's in charge

by Laura H. Kahn

Prepared and engaged elected officials are absolutely critical for effective responses to any crisis. Elected officials have unique roles and responsibilities that only they can fill. They must decide how much or how little decision-making authority they will delegate to their professional appointees such as public health and agriculture officials when crises develop. A well-understood chain of command is vital for saving lives. This book explores leadership during disease crises, with the goal of understanding why leadership problems develop.