Prior to his assignment in New York, Simonson was the Assistant Director-General for the General Management Group at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Simonson served as the Secretary's principal advisor on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
He also coordinated interagency activities between HHS, other federal departments, agencies, offices and state and local officials responsible for emergency preparedness and the protection of the civilian population.
[2] After completing undergraduate studies, Simonson worked for several years on Wall Street before returning to Wisconsin to attend law school.
Simonson was awarded the Surgeon General's Medallion in May 2006 for "Significant Collaboration with and Contributions to the USPHS Commissioned Corps Response Mission."
In June 2006, Simonson received the Public Health Achievement Award from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research: "For Tireless and exceptional dedication in better preparing our nation and world against the threats of bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases, including pandemic influenza."
Simonson's alleged lack of qualifications and of public health experience were a target for Democrats attacking President Bush's perceived cronyism, especially in light of the poor job Bush-appointee Michael D. Brown is believed to have done responding to Hurricane Katrina.
Unlike Mr. Brown, Mr. Simonson, 42 years old at the time, kept his job, and remained at HHS under Mr. Thompson's successor, Mike Leavitt.
Some respected public health officials rose to his defense, describing Mr. Simonson as a person who worked behind the scenes to get funding and political support for long-neglected public-health initiatives.
Dr. Louis Cataldie, the Louisiana State Medical Examiner, wrote in his book, Coroners Journal: "I respect Stewart Simonson, Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services, who met me face-to-face and stayed true to his word.
D. A. Henderson, a public health expert who led the effort to wipe out smallpox in the late 1960s and 1970s, said: "The general feeling was this is someone who may be here because of political reasons, but this is a dedicated person who has the interests of the country at heart."
Little would have been achieved without both of them" (referring to Simonson and Dr. William Raub) D. A. Henderson, MD, Smallpox: The Death of a Disease, Prometheus Books (2009), Page 191.