Erica Schwartz (American Physician) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Physician, Rear Admiral (Ret.), Deputy Surgeon General (former), Nominee for CDC Director
Nationality	American

Latest News about Erica Schwartz

17/04/2026

President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a physician with over 20 years of military service and former Deputy Surgeon General, Schwartz brings extensive medical and public health expertise to the role, though the CDC faces significant challenges including leadership instability, low staff morale, and ongoing changes to vaccine policy.

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Bio/Wiki

Full Name	Erica Schwartz

Educational Qualification(s)

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering	Brown University, 1994
Doctor of Medicine (MD)	Brown University School of Medicine
Master of Public Health (MPH)	Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2001
Juris Doctorate (JD)	University of Maryland School of Law
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency	Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2001

Personal Life

Board certified in Preventive Medicine (Occupational Medicine)

Relationships & More

Husband	Military service

Family

Father	Joined the Navy at age 17 and built a long career in the military

Career

Military Service	Over 20 years in US Navy, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and US Coast Guard; promoted to Rear Admiral
Key Roles	Chief Medical Officer and Director of Health, Safety, and Work Life, US Coast Guard (2015-2019) Chief of Health Services, US Coast Guard (2013-2015) Deputy Surgeon General, US Department of Health and Human Services (March 2019 - April 2021) Board of Directors, Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (since May 2021) Chief of Health Services and Preventive Medicine Chief, US Coast Guard Headquarters Nominee for CDC Director (announced by President Trump)
Notable	Nominated by President Trump to be CDC Director; Deployed as Medical Unit Leader for Deepwater Horizon
Net Worth	$2.67 million (as of July 16, 2025)
Notable Achievements	Recognized as one of the Military Health System Female Physicians of the Year by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Served as Coast Guard's principal expert on pandemic influenza and medical consultant for DHS Pandemic Influenza Principal Federal Official Deployed as Medical Unit Leader for Deepwater Horizon response Responsible for Coast Guard's health care system of 41 clinics and 150 sick bays Oversaw Coast Guard's child care programs, food services, Ombudsman, Substance Abuse, Health Promotion, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Board certified in preventive medicine
2. Family tradition of military service inspired her career from a young age
3. Joined the Navy in 1994 while starting medical program at Brown
4. Admitted to the District of Columbia Bar
5. Hand-picked as medical consultant for DHS Pandemic Influenza Principal Federal Official

Erica Schwartz Physician, Rear Admiral (Ret.), Deputy Surgeon General (former), Nominee for CDC Director American