Robert Marbut

Christopher M. Jones, Pharm.D., Dr.P.H., M.P.H. (RDML U.S. Public Health Service) currently serves as Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), acting Director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, and Chief Science and Program Officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. RDML Jones brings a wealth of experience to SAMHSA having led substance use, mental health, and injury prevention policy, program, and research activities for more than a decade. Prior to becoming Director of CSAP, RDML Jones served as the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During his career, RDML Jones has served in multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). RDML Jones maintains an active research portfolio and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications on substance use, mental health, and injury prevention.

Chief Medical Officer, Assistant Director Office of Addiction Prevention, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Dr. Lev brings decades of front-line medical expertise to drug policy as an emergency and addiction physician in San Diego. Dr. Lev served as Chief of the emergency department at Scripps Mercy Hospital, President of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Executive Director of Independent Emergency Physicians Consortium (IEPC), and Founder of the International Academy on the Science and Impact of Cannabis (IASIC). Dr. Lev has been a leader for safe prescribing and breaking silos between public health and public safety. She hosted the High Truths on Drugs and Addiction podcast, bringing a comprehensive view to the program. Dr. Lev is the drafter of Tyler’s Law, landmark legislation in California that requires fentanyl to be included in all drug tests ordered in hospitals. This law has been adopted by several other states, is being considered federally, and has been credited with saving lives nationwide. She continues to support parent advocates and community prevention programs across the country. Dr. Lev is a graduate of the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio, emergency medicine residency at the University of California San Diego, and is dually board certified in addiction medicine. As a mother and grandmother, she brings a deeply personal commitment to supporting families affected by addiction. With a passion for helping others, she channels her clinical experience into impactful public health leadership.

Dr. Marbut has worked in four Presidential Administrations in five different positions, including being a White House Fellow to President George W. Bush and being the Executive Director of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness. Robert was the Founding President/CEO of Haven for Hope the largest homelessness transformational campus in the USA, and served as a San Antonio City Councilperson and Mayor-Pro-Tem. He has produced three award winning movies including Fentanyl Death Incorporated and Americans With No Address. Beyond governmental policy, he was an officer and board member of the United States Olympic Committee and Chaired the USOC Management Council for all 45 Pan Am, Summer, and Winter Olympic sports. He has worked for the San Antonio Spurs three separate times, including being President of the Spurs Entertainment. Robert has six academic degrees and four post-grad fellowships. He is the incoming Chair of the White House Fellows Association and currently serves as a Senior Advisor for the Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development.

Brandan Thomas serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Open Door Mission in Houston, Texas, where he leads one of the region’s most comprehensive faith-based recovery and homelessness programs for men. With more than a decade of executive leadership in the rescue mission movement, Brandan has dedicated his career to addressing homelessness, addiction, and poverty through holistic, Christ-centered care.
Prior to joining Open Door Mission, he served as Vice President of Leadership, Learning, and Programs at Citygate Network, a national association of rescue missions, where he helped shape strategy, leadership development, and national collaboration across hundreds of ministries. He also previously served as CEO of Winchester Rescue Mission, where he led significant organizational growth and program expansion. His leadership emphasizes innovation, data-informed outcomes, and the integration of faith and practice in service to those in greatest need.