Kenneth P. Moritsugu

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

Kenneth Moritsugu
Surgeon General of the United States
Acting
In office August 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Richard Carmona
Succeeded by	Steven K. Galson (acting)
In office February 13, 2002 – August 4, 2002
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	David Satcher
Succeeded by	Richard Carmona
Personal details
Born	(1945-03-05) March 5, 1945 (age 80) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Education	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BS) George Washington University (MD) University of California, Berkeley (MPH)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service	U.S. Public Health Service
Service years	1971–2007
Rank	Rear Admiral

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]

Personal

In the 2024 United States presidential election, Moritsugu endorsed Kamala Harris.^[3]

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:^[4][5]

	Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal
	Federal Bureau of Prisons Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Medal)
	Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal
	Federal Bureau of Prisons Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Medal)
	Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
	Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
	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