Alex Azar

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Alex Michael Azar II (born June 17, 1967) is an American attorney and former pharmaceutical executive who served as the 24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from January 29, 2018, to January 20, 2021, under President Donald Trump. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Azar was a top executive at Eli Lilly and Company, a major pharmaceutical company, where he played a key role in the company's global operations and strategic direction.

Early Life and Education

Alex Azar was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Maryland. He earned his bachelor's degree in government and economics from Dartmouth College in 1988 and his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1991. After graduating from law school, Azar clerked for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and later for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Career

Early Career

After his clerkships, Azar joined the law firm Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in healthcare law. He then entered public service, working for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the George W. Bush administration. Initially, Azar served as General Counsel of HHS from 2001 to 2005, and subsequently as Deputy Secretary of HHS from 2005 to 2007.

Eli Lilly and Company

In 2007, Azar left public service to join Eli Lilly and Company, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms. At Eli Lilly, he held several senior positions, including Vice President of Business-to-Business and Puerto Rico operations. In 2012, he was appointed as President of Lilly USA, LLC, the company's largest affiliate, where he was responsible for the commercial operations of the company's entire United States business.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

In November 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Azar to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, succeeding Tom Price. Azar's nomination was confirmed by the Senate on January 24, 2018, and he was sworn in on January 29, 2018. As Secretary, Azar focused on several priorities, including the reduction of prescription drug prices, addressing the opioid crisis, and reforming the American healthcare system to provide more choice and lower costs for consumers. He also played a significant role in the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to develop and distribute vaccines and therapeutics.

Personal Life

Azar is married and has two children. He is known for his conservative views on healthcare policy and has been a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act.

Controversies

During his tenure as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Azar faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the early stages of the outbreak. Critics argued that the department was slow to respond to the crisis and that there were failures in the initial rollout of testing. However, supporters have defended Azar's leadership, highlighting his efforts to expedite vaccine development through the Operation Warp Speed program. Template:Pol-bio-stub