Kenneth P. Moritsugu (born March 5, 1945) is an American physician and public health administrator who was the first Asian American US Surgeon General.

Kenneth Moritsugu
Surgeon General of the United States
Acting
In office
August 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byRichard Carmona
Succeeded bySteven K. Galson (acting)
In office
February 13, 2002 – August 4, 2002
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDavid Satcher
Succeeded byRichard Carmona
Personal details
Born (1945-03-05) March 5, 1945 (age 79)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BS)
George Washington University (MD)
University of California, Berkeley (MPH)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/servicePublic Health Service
Years of service1971–2007
Rank Rear Admiral

Mortisugu was a rear admiral in the USPHSCC, who retired in September 2007 as acting United States Surgeon General. A third-generation Japanese-American, he was appointed the Deputy Surgeon General on October 1, 1998 and named acting Surgeon General on July 31, 2006. In 2005, Moritsugu was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[1]

Moritsugu received his bachelor's degree in 1967 from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in 1971, and a Master of Public Health (Health Administration and Planning) from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health in 1975.

He was the first Asian-American Surgeon General of the US.

He is Hospitaller Ambassador of the Order of Saint Lazarus.[2]

Awards and decorations

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Moritsugu has received awards and decorations from the USPHS, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Army, the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard. Among them are:[3][4]

Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
  Federal Bureau of Prisons Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal
  Federal Bureau of Prisons Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Medal)
Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
Public Health Service Commendation Medal
  Public Health Service Achievement Medal
  Army Achievement Medal
  Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
  Field Medical Readiness Badge
  Deputy Surgeon General Badge
  Department of Health and Human Services Identification Badge

References

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  1. ^ Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  2. ^ The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Members of the Grand Magistral Council
  3. ^ "Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 132 (Friday, September 7, 2007)". Gpo.gov. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. ^ Ansho Mas Uchima; Minoru Shinmoto (20 January 2007). "Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu". Hokubei Mainichi. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
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