The CDC Leaders

"Vision is the art of seeing the invisible."

- Jonathan Swift

Ed Sontag, EdD

Senior Advisor to the Director, Office of the Director

In an effort to achieve the goal of building strong, transparent, sustained public health systems throughout the world, CDC must partner with national and international organizations, agencies, and departments within the federal government and foreign governments. As Senior Advisor for Global Affairs, Ed Sontag, EdD, is reviewing current programs CDC-wide, exploring opportunities worldwide, and providing evaluations and recommendations to CDC leadership on achieving global health goals, global health preparedness, and global emergency response activities.

Dr. Sontag has more than 35 years of varied management experience in state and federal government and academic settings. He served as the Coordinating Center for Health Information and Service′s (CCHIS) Chief Management Official (CMO), during which time he was responsible for strategic and management oversight for all operations and administrative functions of CCHIS. Prior to coming to CCHIS, he served as the acting CMO for CDC′s Office of Workforce and Career Development (OWCD). He joined OWCD in early 2006, after serving as the Acting Deputy Director of the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Prior to entering CDC′s workforce, Dr. Sontag served as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management between 2001 and 2005.

Early in his career, Dr. Sontag served as the director of special education for the Madison, Wisconsin, Public School System, and as the assistant state superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education. He received his doctorate in education from Syracuse University and has been a visiting professor in the education departments of more than half a dozen universities throughout the country. Dr. Sontag also co-taught a course in Global Health Diplomacy and Politics at Harvard University´s Kennedy School of Government with former Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Dr. Sontag has published and lectured extensively in the United States and abroad in his fields of administration and special education. He led the United States Delegation to the United Nations′ Conference on Aging in Berlin in 2002, has served on numerous grass roots and national committees and workgroups, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the President′s Commission on Excellence in Special Education. Dr. Sontag has received various honors and awards throughout his career, including the distinguished service award from the Down Syndrome Society.