Joseph Hernandez is a recognized leader in medical technology and healthcare innovation. Now a candidate for Mayor of New York City, he brings to the race a wealth of executive experience shaped by founding and leading pioneering ventures such as Innovative Biosensors and Microlin Bio. On the Empowered Patient Podcast, Mr. Hernandez explored how public-private collaboration can accelerate vaccine development, turning cutting-edge research into market-ready solutions that meet rigorous regulatory standards.
Mr. Hernandez previously served as CEO of Blue Water Vaccines, a company focused on addressing unmet medical needs. Under his leadership, the firm partnered with the University of Oxford to develop next-generation influenza vaccines. In 2025, he also led Blue Water Acquisition Corp. III through a successful initial public offering on Nasdaq (ticker: BLUWU), achieving a $253 million valuation and enabling investments across AI, biotechnology, and healthcare sectors.
A respected voice in Washington, Mr. Hernandez testified before a House subcommittee in 2009 on technology and government contracting. His global perspective includes advising the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseeing the development of a breakthrough HPV diagnostic at Digene Corp.