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 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 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 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 in 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 the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). The acting assistant secretary for health is Rear Admiral Felicia Collins.

Assistant Secretary for Health
Seal of the United States Public Health Service, 1798
Flag of the Assistant Secretary for Health
Incumbent
Rear Admiral Felicia Collins
(Acting)
since January 21, 2021
Public Health Service
Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps
Reports toSecretary of Health and Human Services
SeatHubert H. Humphrey Building, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, D.C.
AppointerPresident of the United States
with United States Senate advice and consent
Term length4 years
Constituting instrument42 U.S.C. § 202 and
42 U.S.C. § 207
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 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 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
Executive
Schedule IV
2
Roger O. Egeberg14 July 196919712 years
Executive
Schedule IV
3
Merlin K. DuVal1 July 197120 January 19731 year, 203 days
Executive
Schedule IV
4
Charles C. Edwards18 April 19735 January 19751 year, 262 days
Executive
Schedule IV
5
Theodore Cooper1 July 197519772 years
Executive
Schedule IV
6
Vice Admiral
Julius B. Richmond		13 July 197714 May 19813 years, 305 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
7
Edward Brandt Jr.198119843 Years
Executive
Schedule IV
8
Robert E. Windom198619893 Years
Executive
Schedule IV
9
Admiral
James O. Mason		198919934 years
U.S. Public
Health Service
10
Philip R. Lee2 July 199319985 Years
Executive
Schedule IV
11
Admiral
David Satcher		13 February 1998January 20013 years
U.S. Public
Health Service
12
Eve Slater8 February 20025 February 2003362 days
Executive
Schedule IV
-
Rear Admiral
Cristina V. Beato
Acting		5 February 200317 December 20052 years, 315 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
13
Admiral
John O. Agwunobi		17 December 20054 September 20071 year, 261 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
14
Admiral
Joxel García		28 March 200820 January 2009298 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
-
Rear Admiral
Steven K. Galson
Acting		22 January 200922 June 2009151 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
15
Howard K. Koh22 June 2009August 20145 years
Executive
Schedule IV
-
Karen B. DeSalvo
Acting		October 20143 January 2017More than 2 years[7]
Executive
Schedule IV
-
Don J. Wright
Acting		4 January 201715 February 20181 year, 42 days
Executive
Schedule IV
16
Admiral
Brett P. Giroir		15 February 201819 January 20212 years, 339 days
U.S. Public
Health Service
-
Captain
Paul L. Reed
Acting		20 January 202121 January 20211 day
U.S. Public
Health Service
-
Rear Admiral
Felicia L. Collins
Acting		21 January 2021Incumbent13 days
U.S. Public
Health Service

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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