Jean-Paul Chretien is director of the Big-if-True Science Accelerator (BiTS) at Renaissance Philanthropy. BiTS helps visionary scientists and technologists transform their bold concepts into actionable program designs. Previously, he served 20 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, most recently as a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he led complex multi-institution efforts to develop life-saving medical technologies. 

Before DARPA, Chretien headed the Department of Defense Pandemic Warning Team when COVID-19 emerged; was senior policy advisor for biodefense at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; led the Innovation & Evaluation Team at the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center; oversaw health protection for U.S. Marines and NATO personnel in Afghanistan; and coordinated global DoD partnerships to detect and respond to emerging infections. 

Chretien graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was a Truman Scholar, and received his MD, PhD (epidemiology), and MHS (biostatistics) from Johns Hopkins University. He received the Skelton Award for Public Service from the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation and the Rising Star Award from the American College of Preventive Medicine, was named one of 13 Innovators Shaping the Future of Health by Fortune, and is a life member in the Council on Foreign Relations.