Biography of the Acting Deputy Surgeon General

Rear Admiral Robert C. Williams, P.E., DEE

 Since October of 2007, RADM Bob Williams has served as the Acting Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, serving as the principal assistant and advisor to the Surgeon General regarding the development and implementation of programs, priorities, and initiatives. As Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Williams maintains effective relationships and collaborations with executive leadership within the federal government and serves as Chief Executive Officer of the 6,000-plus members of the USPHS Commissioned Corps. Prior to assuming the duties as Acting Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Williams served as the Chief of Staff, Office of the Surgeon General, since 2003. As Chief of Staff, he provided direction and oversight to 110 personnel constituting six offices (Commissioned Corps Operations, Force Readiness and Deployment, Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, Reserve Affairs, Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs, and Science and Communications) and advice and council to the Surgeon General.

RADM Williams has more than 28 years of experience in environmental engineering and public health. He recently concluded 6.5 years as the Chief Engineer of the United States Public Health Service, providing advice and consultation on public health engineering matters to the Surgeon General and to over 1,200 engineers in the Public Health Service. Prior to his assignment to the OSG, he served as the Director, Division of Health Assessment and Consultation of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) since 1989. Prior to his commission in the US Public Health Service, he served in the US Army Medical Service Corps. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M. Eng. in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University and has continued his postgraduate education with courses in public health.

RADM Williams is a Registered Professional Engineer and serves, or has served, as an officer and member of national committees for several professional organizations including: American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE Fellow Grade), Society of American Military Engineers (SAME Fellow) and the Commissioned Officers Association of the US Public Health Service. He has been a Diplomat of the American Academy of Engineers (AAEE) since 1992 and has served in various positions with AAEE, including currently serving on the Board of Trustees and on the Certification by Eminence Committee. RADM Williams served on the Governing Board of the ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute from its inception until 2004. He currently serves as the National Vice President of the Society of American Military Engineers and is Chairman of the Academy of Fellows.

He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Texas A&M University School of Rural Public Health and served as a member of the Emory University Academic Advisory Council, responsible for developing the University's environmental health curriculum. He has authored and presented more than 100 publications on a wide variety of environmental health issues, including the co-editing of four books.

RADM Williams is the recipient of the USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Surgeon General's Medallion, two Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medals, two Outstanding Service Medals, three Commendation Medals, Achievement Medal, Crisis Response Service Award, and fourteen Unit Commendation Medals. He received the Stanley E. Kappe Award from AAEE in 2004. He has received the CFEE Federal Environmental Engineer of the Year, PHS Engineer of the Year, and NSPE Top Ten Federal Engineer. He received the Gorgas Medal from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and the ASCE Government Engineer of the Year in 2003. He has received several group awards including three DHHS Secretary's Distinguished Service Awards, SAME Cumming Plaque, and ATSDR/CDC Honor Awards for Public Health Practice. He has also received several awards from professional organizations (e.g., ASCE Best Practice Paper) for his efforts in environmental engineering.