Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Surgeon General of the United States
Seal of the United States Public Health Service
Flag of the United States Surgeon General
Incumbent Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy since March 25, 2021
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Style
Surgeon General Vice Admiral
Abbreviation
SG VADM
Reports to
United States Assistant Secretary for Health
Seat
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, D.C.
Appointer
President of the United States with United States Senate advice and consent
Term length
4 years
Constituting instrument
42 U.S.C. § 205 and 42 U.S.C. § 207
Formation
March 29, 1871
First holder
John M. Woodworth (as supervising surgeon)
Deputy
Deputy Surgeon General
Website
www.SurgeonGeneral.gov
The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The surgeon general's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), which is housed within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.[1]
The U.S. surgeon general is nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The surgeon general must be appointed from individuals who are members of the regular corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and have specialized training or significant experience in public health programs.[2] However, there is no time requirement for membership in the Public Health Service before holding the office of the Surgeon General, and nominees traditionally were appointed as members of the Public Health Service and as surgeon general at the same time. The surgeon general serves a four-year term of office and, depending on whether the current assistant secretary for health is a commissioned corps officer, is either the senior or next-most senior uniformed officer of the commissioned corps, holding the rank of vice admiral.[3][4] The current surgeon general is Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy.
^(ASPA), Digital Communications Division (DCD), Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (2008-10-24). "OASH Organization Chart". HHS.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-19.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^42 U.S.C. § 205 - Appointment and tenure of office of Surgeon General; reversion in rank.
^42 U.S.C. § 207 - Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps.
^"Public Health, Commissioned Corps Uniforms and Ranks". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13.
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