Kenneth P. Moritsugu (born March 5, 1945) is an American physician and public health administrator who was the first Asian American US Surgeon General.

Mortisugu was a rear admiral in the USPHSCC, who retired in September 2007 as acting United States Surgeon General. A third-generation Japanese-American, he was appointed the Deputy Surgeon General on October 1, 1998 and named acting Surgeon General on July 31, 2006. In 2005, Moritsugu was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[1]

Moritsugu received his bachelor's degree in 1967 from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in 1971, and a Master of Public Health (Health Administration and Planning) from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health in 1975.

He was the first Asian-American Surgeon General of the US.

He is Hospitaller Ambassador of the Order of Saint Lazarus.[2]

Awards and decorations

Moritsugu has received awards and decorations from the USPHS, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Army, the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard. Among them are:[3][4]

Gold star
 Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
Federal Bureau of Prisons Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
Gold star
 Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal
Federal Bureau of Prisons Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Medal)
Gold star
 Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
Gold star
 Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
Gold star
 Public Health Service Commendation Medal
Public Health Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
Field Medical Readiness Badge
Deputy Surgeon General Badge
Department of Health and Human Services Identification Badge

References

  1. ^ Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  2. ^ The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Members of the Grand Magistral Council
  3. ^ "Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 132 (Friday, September 7, 2007)". Gpo.gov. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. ^ Ansho Mas Uchima; Minoru Shinmoto (20 January 2007). "Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu". Hokubei Mainichi. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-17.

External links