By: Fred Smith
Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, selecting a seasoned public health official for a role that has largely been filled on an interim or part-time basis during his second administration.
Schwartz previously served as deputy surgeon general in Trump’s first administration and has built much of her career in health-related roles within the U.S. military.
A board-certified physician in preventive medicine, she earned her medical degree from Brown University in 1998 and later obtained a Master of Public Health from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in 2000. She also holds a law degree and is admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C.
Throughout her career, Schwartz served extensively in both the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, including as the Coast Guard’s chief of preventive medicine. She also played a role in the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
