Alex Azar | |
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![]() Official portrait, 2019 | |
24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
In office January 29, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Deputy | Eric Hargan |
Preceded by | Tom Price |
Succeeded by | Xavier Becerra |
1st Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force | |
In office January 29, 2020 – February 26, 2020 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Mike Pence |
United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
In office January 22, 2005 – February 4, 2007 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Claude Allen |
Succeeded by | Tevi Troy |
General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services | |
In office August 8, 2001 – January 22, 2005 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Harriet S. Rabb |
Succeeded by | Daniel Meron |
Personal details | |
Born | Alex Michael Azar II June 17, 1967 Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jennifer Reist[1] |
Children | 2 |
Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Alex Michael Azar II (/ˈeɪzɑːr/; born June 17, 1967) is an American attorney, businessman, lobbyist, and former pharmaceutical executive who served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021. Azar was nominated to his post by President Donald Trump on November 13, 2017, and confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 2018. He was also chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force from its inception in January 2020 to February 2020, when he was replaced by Vice President Mike Pence.
In 2021, he was appointed a senior executive in residence at the Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami.[2][3]
From 2012 to 2017, Azar was president of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company, a major drug company, and a member of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a large pharmaceutical trade association.
Azar served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) from 2001 to 2005. On July 22, 2005, he was confirmed as the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services; he served in that capacity until his January 2007 resignation.