J. JARRETT CLINTON TAPPED AS NEW ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (HEALTH AFFAIRS)

Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced the designation of Dr. J. Jarrett Clinton, to serve as acting assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. Clinton will serve as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the secretary and deputy secretary of Defense and under secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. His responsibilities include development and oversight of the health policies, programs, and activities in the Department of Defense (DoD).

"I'm very pleased to have Dr. Clinton on the DoD team in this expanded role," Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen said. "The wealth of experience and knowledge he brings will directly enhance the Defense Department's ability to accomplish both our wartime and peacetime health missions."

Clinton serves concurrently as the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Operations Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). These responsibilities, which began in March 2000, include oversight and policy development for DoD deployment health programs and activities. Previously, Clinton served as deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Professional Affairs and Quality Assurance, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), from 1984 to 1988. In this position, Clinton focused on the measurement and improvement of the quality of DoD medical care, and population health policy issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to regulations for smoking and substance abuse.

Clinton is a rear admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and has held several positions in the Department of Health and Human Services. His positions included serving as the administrator for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research from 1991 to 1994, and regional health administrator, Region IV (eight southeastern states) from 1994 to 2000.

Clinton received his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical School and completed his internship at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. Clinton is board-certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (Public Health). Additional training includes a master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.