Assistant Secretary for Health

The Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) serves as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services's primary advisor on matters involving the nation's public health and, if serving as an active-duty officer in the regular corps, is the highest ranking uniformed officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). The ASH oversees all matters pertaining to the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), the main division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for the Secretary and provides strategic and policy direction for the commissioned corps. The PHS comprises almost all the agency divisions of the HHS as well as the commissioned corps, a uniformed service of more than 6,700 health professionals who serve at the HHS, other federal agencies, and/or are assigned details to the armed forces. The ASH is a civilian or a uniformed officer of the regular corps and is nominated for appointment by the President. The nominee must also be confirmed by the Senate. The ASH serves a four-year term of office at the pleasure of the President. If the appointee is also a serving uniformed officer of the regular corps, he or she is also appointed as a four-star admiral in the regular corps.[1][2] The President may also nominate a civilian appointee to also be appointed a direct commission into the regular corps if the nominee so chooses.[2][3] As such the position of ASH is the only office in the PHS that merits a four-star grade in the regular corps. The Assistant Secretary's office and staff are known as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). The current Assistant Secretary for Health is Admiral Brett Giroir.

Assistant Secretary for Health
Incumbent
Admiral Brett P. Giroir, USPHS
since February 15, 2018
FormationNovember 2, 1965 (1965-11-02)
First holderPhilip R. Lee
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs was established on January 1, 1967 following the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1966. The plan allowed the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to restructure the Public Health Service to better serve public health.[4] The office was renamed to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health following the Department of Education Organization Act in 1972.[4]

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
Main article: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

As of 2018, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health oversees 12 core public health offices, 10 regional health offices, and 10 presidential and secretarial advisory committees.[5] Prior to 2010, the Office was known as the Office of Public Health and Science.[6]

The stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of the Assistant Secretary for Health if serving in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

List of Assistant Secretaries for Health
No. Assistant secretary Term Pay schedule or
Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
Philip R. Lee2 November 196519693 years
Senior Executive
Service
2
Roger O. Egeberg14 July 196919712 years
Senior Executive
Service
3
Merlin K. DuVal1 July 197120 January 19731 year, 203 days
Senior Executive
Service
4
Charles C. Edwards18 April 19735 January 19751 year, 262 days
Senior Executive
Service
5
Theodore Cooper1 July 197519772 years
Senior Executive
Service
6
Vice Admiral
Julius B. Richmond		13 July 197714 May 19813 years, 305 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
7
Edward Brandt Jr.198119843 Years
Senior Executive
Service
8
Robert E. Windom198619893 Years
Senior Executive
Service
9
Admiral
James O. Mason		198919934 years
U.S. Public
Health Service
10
Philip R. Lee2 July 199319985 Years
Senior Executive
Service
11
Admiral
David Satcher		13 February 1998January 20013 years
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
12
Eve Slater8 February 20025 February 2003362 days
Senior Executive
Service
-
Rear Admiral
Cristina V. Beato
Acting		5 February 200317 December 20052 years, 315 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
13
Admiral
John O. Agwunobi		17 December 20054 September 20071 year, 261 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
14
Admiral
Joxel García		28 March 200820 January 2009298 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
-
Rear Admiral
Steven K. Galson
Acting		22 January 200922 June 2009151 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps
15
Howard K. Koh22 June 2009August 20145 years
Senior Executive
Service
-
Karen B. DeSalvo
Acting		October 20143 January 2017More than 2 years[7]
Senior Executive
Service
-
Don J. Wright
Acting		4 January 201715 February 20181 year, 42 days
Senior Executive
Service
16
Admiral
Brett P. Giroir		15 February 2018Incumbent2 years, 184 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
Commissioned Corps

References
  1. "PHSCC Uniforms". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  2. "42 USC 207. Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  3. "Regular Corps Assimilation Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  4. Records of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health [OASH].
  5. "Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)". HHS.gov. 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  6. "Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)". 2010-09-22. Archived from the original on 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  7. Received a recess appointment on January 1, 2016 to continue serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health until the end of fiscal year 2016.
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