Georgia Southern University professor appointed to Chatham County Board of Health
José de Arimatéia da Cruz, Ph.D., professor of international relations and international studies in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has been appointed to the Chatham County Board of Health (CCBH) for a six-year term through 2031.
He will join a seven-member governing body composed of local representatives, working closely with local government leaders, county commission and the county superintendent of schools. CCBH oversees the Chatham County Health Department, assisting in public health policy and adoption of new rules.
Combining his expertise in international relations, da Cruz also specializes in cybersecurity and public health, bringing a unique skill set to the Chatham County Public Health Department that bridges the gap between local health initiatives and global security by connecting public health and global disease management directly with national security and military preparedness.
“I hope my appointment to the Chatham Public Health Board is a rewarding experience and that I can use my national and international expertise to make a difference in our community and continue improving the well-being of our community’s citizens,” da Cruz said.
Additionally, da Cruz serves on the City of Savannah Ethics Board, Hospital Authority and Public Health Board. He also holds notable research and operational roles at the Center for Strategic Leadership in the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Alongside his military education roles, he is a research associate for the Brazil Research Unit at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C. With an active international profile, da Cruz has acted as a visiting professor at the Prague University of Economics and Business, the University of Stavanger in Norway and La Serena University in Chile.
On a national level, da Cruz holds specialized certifications from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in emergency management, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.S. Army in defense support of civil authorities. He is also a Cisco Certified CyberOps Officer and a Certified HIPAA Compliance Officer.
His extensive career spans the intelligence community across both the government and private sectors. Through this new appointment, da Cruz will provide the board with a macro-level understanding of how global health crises, biosecurity and technological threats impact community wellness and emergency readiness in the communities surrounding the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern.