December 5, 2020 Conference and Book fair
Our Most Auspicious Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bradley Harper
My life before becoming an author was as a board-certified Army Pathologist. I have performed over 200 autopsies during my 37 years of active duty as a pathologist, and my clinical years are interwoven with four stints as the commanding officer of various medical units. I was an Infantry officer before medical school, worked in the Pentagon, and learned to speak five languages. Yet, I also happily play Santa each Christmas (with my loving wife as Mrs. Claus). It is this juxtaposition of exploring the body, mind, and humanity that allows me share universal truths with my readers–on the page, or through book talks.
...and the longer version:
Bradley Harper graduated from college in 1973 and attended Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, graduating in May, 1983 with an MD degree. He is Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, and ultimately served thirty-seven years of active duty.
During his Army career, Dr. Harper performed some two hundred autopsies, twenty of which were forensic. In addition to his clinical experience, he had four commands, beginning with the 67th Combat Support Hospital, (Forward) in support of the Bosnian peacekeeping mission, and culminating as Commander, Vicenza Army Health Clinic, Vicenza, Italy. He received an award from the Knights of Malta (the only non-Italian to ever receive this award) for his support of the Italian Army. His American awards and decorations include the Basic Parachutist, Pathfinder, Army Staff, and Expert Field Medical Badges. His highest award is the Legion of Merit, with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Staff assignments include Command Surgeon, US Army South, where he briefly served in support of US Special Forces in Colombia, and during which all US military personnel had a $1.5 million bounty placed on them by the FARC (alive). He was on the personal staff of the US Army Surgeon General, in the Pentagon, and represented MEDCOM (Medical Command) at various recurring meetings of the Army General Staff.
Upon retirement, he earned an Associate’s Degree in Creative Writing from Full Sail University in March of 2018, graduating as Valedictorian of his program.
Dr. Harper and his wife, who met in Junior High, have been married forty-five years. They live in Virginia, have two grown daughters, and one grandson. He takes a break from the authorial life in November and December, when he and his wife portray a happily married couple from the North Pole. A kindly soul, Santa Brad threatens those on the Naughty list with burnt cookies.
