Alex Azar

Alex M. Azar II was born on June 17, 1967, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from Dartmouth College in 1988 and earned his Juris Doctor from Yale University in 1991. Following law school, Azar served as a law clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and later for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. From 1992 to 1993, he clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. His early legal career also included a role as an associate independent counsel for Ken Starr during the Whitewater controversy from 1994 to 1996, and then as an attorney at the Washington, D.C. firm Wiley Rein, where he achieved partner status.

Azar transitioned into public service, holding significant roles at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2001 to 2007. He served as the General Counsel from 2001 to 2005, playing a key role in the department’s response to the 2001 anthrax attacks and preparedness efforts for SARS and influenza. From 2005 to 2007, he was the Deputy Secretary of HHS, where he focused on improving departmental operations, emergency preparedness, and the rollout of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. After his initial tenure at HHS, Azar moved to the private sector, joining Eli Lilly and Co. in 2007. He held several leadership positions, culminating in his role as president of Lilly USA LLC, the company’s largest affiliate, from 2012 to 2017. During this period, he was involved in the company’s U.S. operations.

In January 2018, Azar was sworn in as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a position he held until January 2021. As Secretary, he was involved in initiatives aimed at reducing drug prices and improving health insurance affordability, including the American Patients First blueprint. He also assumed leadership roles in the U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including serving as chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and leading Operation Warp Speed, which focused on the development of COVID-19 vaccines. His career demonstrates a breadth of experience across legal, pharmaceutical, and high-level government roles, reflecting a consistent focus on healthcare policy and public health.