My Autobiography: David Balleza K(C)atague: My FDA Role After the 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Center

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

My FDA Role After the 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Center

This posting is my initial response to the firing of about 20% of FDA employees. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Social Welfare publicly branded FDA employees as part of a “corrupt system” and called upon them to “preserve your sanity” or “pack your bags.” I plan on writing a more detailed article on this subject in my next posting.

One of the most impactful moments of my professional life in the FDA( 1990-2002) was my involvement in the aftermath of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. I served as part of the response team tasked with reviewing chemistry, manufacturing and control protocols for 2 drugs, Sulfamylon and Sulfadene 💚 for burn victims—a unique and sobering responsibility. The courage of first responders, the resilience of survivors, and the collaboration between federal agencies inspired a lifetime’s worth of humility and pride. These experiences reminded me that, even amid tragedy, small acts of expertise and compassion can ripple outward in ways we never fully appreciate.

Ripples of Compassion: My FDA Role After 9/11
📝 Quote: “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” – Sun Tzu

One of the most impactful moments of my professional life at the FDA came in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy—the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. I was honored to be part of the federal response team, specifically reviewing and updating chemistry and manufacturing protocols for treating burn victims. It was a unique and sobering responsibility that tested not only our scientific knowledge but our human capacity for compassion.

I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary courage of first responders, the resilience of survivors, and the seamless collaboration between federal agencies determined to do what was needed, fast and effectively. These were days filled with urgency, purpose, and a deep sense of national solidarity.

That time left a permanent mark on me. It taught me that, even amid catastrophe, small acts of expertise and empathy can ripple outward far beyond what we can see. Whether it was a revised burn treatment protocol or a simple gesture of support to a colleague working overtime, every contribution mattered.

In those moments, I understood more than ever the quiet power of service. And in remembering 9/11, I remember not only the pain but also the deep well of humanity it revealed.

🔍 Summary:
After the 9/11 attacks, I served on the FDA’s emergency response team, reviewing chemistry and manufacturing protocols for two drugs, Sulfamylon and Sulfadene for burn victims. This work deepened my appreciation for public service and showed me that in the darkest times, even the smallest contributions can carry great meaning.

Meanwhile, here's my summary and Reflection on the article: the Collapse of the FDA: and Kennedy Dismantling of the Agency.

As someone who dedicated twelve years of my professional life to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—culminating in my role as a Chemistry Team Leader at the Center for New Drugs and participation on the Emergency Team after 9/11—the recent New York Times Magazine article “On the Collapse of the FDA” by Jeneen Interlandi (July 20, 2025) hit home on a deeply personal level.

The article details a transformation that many of us who served within the agency could scarcely imagine: the systematic dismantling of an institution designed to protect public health and consumer safety, now threatened under the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

I will post a SEPARATE article on this topic in my next blogs.

For Details on my involvement after the 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Center and my FDA years read:

💚https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-18th-anniversary-of-bombing-of-wtc.html

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2021/07/our-maryland-and-fda-years-1990-2002.html

Lastly, here's my photo of the Day:

My Batman- One of my Companions here at THD- Keeps me active and not lonely

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Highlights of My Professional Career

In my more than 40 years of professional career, I have experienced both working rank and file, as well as supervising the work of subordinates. I have worked in four private firms and the Federal Government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where I retired. I enjoyed the challenges and difficulties of both types of job situations. This is the highlights of my work experience story.

My first job after completing my doctorate degree was a Chemist for Chemagro Corporation in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a subsidiary of Bayer Corporation, a German conglomerate. I worked for the analytical chemistry department comprised of about fifty people; half that number was either chemists or biologists. My specific task was to develop analytical methods for the detection of pesticide residues in plant and animal tissues. I worked on my own, similar to six other bench chemists, and we all reported to the same supervisor.

The firm sponsored my visa conversion from a student to a permanent resident, and I was able to legally work and reside in the United States with my family. The company generously took care of its employees. At the end of each successful year, everyone received a 13th month salary bonus. The employees and their families celebrated wonderful annual Christmas parties in a downtown Kansas City hotel, with dancing and free drinks for the whole night.

Inasmuch as I enjoyed and loved working for Chemagro for five years, I found a new job which offered a substantially higher pay. Due to my exemplary work performance, my supervisor preferred and lobbied for me to stay with the company. I had to turn him down because they could not match the package presented by my new employer. It was also a chance for me and my family to move and live in the US west coast, where the mild winter climate is bearable compared to the Midwest.

My next job was at the agricultural research division of Shell Development Company in Modesto, California. I was a Research Chemist, and again I worked individually, same as five other chemists who all reported to a supervisor. My specific duty was similar to my previous job. I worked for them for five years, until the company decided to get out of the pesticide business. They closed their research facility affecting the jobs of more than 200 employees.

My third industrial job was with the agricultural research division of Stauffer chemical company, located in Richmond, California. I was a Senior Research Chemist doing the same project as my two previous jobs. I worked for twelve continuous years for the company, with outstanding annual job performance. I became a Principal Research Chemist, the highest attainable non-supervisory position.

One day in 1986, my supervisor informed me that my job had been eliminated, and I had one day to vacate the facility. It was the most dreadful lay off experience in my life. I felt anger, sadness and humiliation to be dismissed from work with one day notice, after all the years of hard work invested for the company. This was an unforgettable incident and was the gloomiest point in my professional career.
The company terminated sixty research employees, who were upset of the bad news.

One of the chemists was distressed and expressed his outrageous anger by threatening the company and its workers. He told his supervisor of his intention to bomb and burn down the laboratory. He was immediately escorted by the security staff out of the building and into his car. He was informed to leave behind his personal belongings; they will be mailed to his residence. He was warned never to show up again near the company premises or risk getting arrested.

My supervisor was kind and allowed me to take my time to pack up my belongings. It took me two days to clear up my workplace, after toiling for a long period in the same jobsite. We were provided clerical help and office space, in preparation to look for another job, such as updating our resumes, and using the computer and copy machine. We were given six weeks of separation pay plus benefits.

Fortunately, with the help of a friend who is a Church parishioner, I found another job thirty days after leaving Stauffer chemical company. He hired me as a senior research chemist and as a group leader with two technicians to supervise. It was in the same field as my expertise in my previous three jobs spanning the last twenty one years. My new employer was Chevron Chemical Company, and which was located in the same area as my former employer.

This job gave me the introduction and basic knowledge of managing the work of subordinates. I worked for Chevron Company for four and a half years. The company decided to consolidate their research facilities in Texas, and lay off all its research employees. This time I had enough distress and agony from working, and eventually getting laid off from several private companies. To avoid going through any more miserable layoffs, I made a vow that I would never again work for a private company.

In my work experiences, there were noticeable and unavoidable jobsite occurrences. One can never miss the office romantic relationships between co-workers, both illicit and permitted. Though it was frowned upon, there was a boss and staff relationship, which was used as a ploy to get ahead in the company. Some relationships had chemistry, no pun intended, but some never worked out. Oftentimes, there was a sense of distrust among bench chemists for some workers who unjustly obtained preferred work assignments.

Some employees resorted to bribing superiors to get special privileges, such as being able to attend choice conferences and meetings in exciting venues or locations. Likewise, politics was always present at the worksites. It was during an era when various forms of harassment, equal opportunity and discrimination laws were not yet enforced in the workplace. Occasionally, an unexpected chemical explosion happens in a laboratory setting, where luckily no one got seriously hurt.

In the three private companies I worked for, I was able to publish scientific journals for some of the research studies and analytical methods which I developed for the respective companies of Chemagro, Shell Development and Stauffer.

After deciding and making a vow to avoid working in the private sector, I made my new goal which was either to work for the state of California, or the Federal government in Washington, D.C. Four months after I lost my job in Chevron, I was lucky and joyful to be hired by the Food and Drug Administration as a review chemist in the fall of 1990.

In 1994 I was promoted as an Expert Research Chemist with a GS-14 rating. My expertise was on Anti-malarial and Anti-parasitic drug products. In 1997, I was again deservingly promoted to Chemistry team leader, supervising the work of six Chemistry reviewers including five with doctorate degrees.

As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products, Center of New Drugs.

It was part of my responsibility to give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. My work in the FDA is confidential, until the drug patent on the products I worked on has expired. There are manufacturing supplements that I have approved that are now open for the public in the Internet.

In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.” I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

There are many good things working as rank and file while enjoying doing one’s job individually. It is a humbling, satisfying and productive experience, if one can work in harmony with one’s immediate supervisor. Working individually develops one’s skills in goal setting and scheduling. But in general, the financial rewards are less than a person who has supervisory responsibilities.

Managing the work of others has its challenges. Moreover, it develops one’s skill in handling and developing people, and the compensation rewards and benefits are better. Due to additional duties, responsibilities and leadership, supervisory work can be more stressful than working as a subordinate. However, supervisory jobs give one more personal growth and satisfaction, based on my personal experience. My work in FDA as a team leader managing the work of six scientists had been the happiest and rewarding work experience in my career in Chemistry. You might also like:

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

My FDA Role After the 9/11 Bombing of the World Trade Center

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