Meet Benoit Dagadu
Benoit Dagadu, Founder & CEO of Dabena Alliances, is an expert preventive care specialist with over 22 years of experience with extensive knowledge and passion in global public health wellness, including the administration of public health preventive practices, standards, comprehensive strategies, resource implementation, and coordination of programs in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, and HIV/AIDS for at-risk populations. He is also a specialist in coordinating and managing global emergency public health responses and national disaster relief efforts.
His professional experience spans from Health Care Administration and Management, Substance Abuse Prevention, Community Coalition Building, Health Education Campaigns, Materials Development, Contracts/Grant Administration and Program Review, Non-Profit Services, Rural Health, Community Integration and Emergency Preparedness, Program Management and Evaluation, and Global Health Care and International assignments.
Previously, he worked at Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) where he served as the Senior Public Health Advisor managing Drug Free Communities grants. Additionally, he maintained a database for the White House, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) multi-million-dollar grants program.
Prior to his duty at Center of Substance Abuse Prevention, he served 9 years in the U.S. Navy as an Information Technology Specialist aboard USS O’Brien DD975, Yokosuka Naval Base Japan, and also served as Leading Petty Officer in the IT Department at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He has also assisted on several SAMSHA community outreach programs. He was also deployed to Conakry, Guinea West Africa, where he served as the Deputy for the Epidemiology Team for the Center for Disease Control’s Ebola eradication effort. His personal decoration includes two Navy Achievement Medals and various service and campaign awards.
Benoit is native of Ghana. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1993 to attend college. He speaks French, Japanese, and 4 different African dialects. He is an avid gardener. He also loves soccer and the Dallas Cowboys football team.
“One of the most important lessons I have learned as a veteran who served for 22 years in the U.S. Navy and in U.S. Public Health Services is that no victory is ever won single-handedly. In the Navy, I earned a reputation among my colleagues for being a reliable and competent officer who was always willing to take on new and challenging experiences. The truth is I couldn’t have succeeded in any of my duties without the support of teammates and my utmost dedication as a team player.” Benoit Dagadu
