Mr. Griffis joined CIDRAP in 2025 as CIDRAP director of media relations and public affairs. Prior to joining CIDRAP, Mr. Griffis served as director of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Communications, where he led a team of 170 full-time employees. He joined the CDC in 2022 and oversaw communications for the agency’s response to the mpox and avian flu outbreaks, and was responsible for wide-ranging, post-pandemic reforms to how CDC communicates with the public, including the overhaul of CDC.gov.
Mr. Griffis' government service also includes tours as Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs under Secretary Sylvia Burwell and director of public affairs for the US Commerce Department under Secretary Gary Locke.
Mr. Griffis joined the CDC from Centene Corporation, a multinational healthcare company, where he was vice president for strategic communications, working on messaging initiatives with the company’s health plans in 30 states across the country. He has also headed up communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where he was vice president of communications, and for US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) as communications director for Booker's successful 2013 special election and his Senate office. Prior to his work in the Obama administration, he spent time in 2007 and 2008 on the Barack Obama campaign and has worked on a variety of statewide political races across the country.
Mr. Griffis began his career as a reporter and holds a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College.
