CAPT Robert Davidson, Health Services Officer, assumes the RHA role and responsibilities for public health leadership of the Region.  Region II includesNew York, New Jersey, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  CAPT Davidson has served as Acting RHA-II for the past 2 years and as Deputy RHA since 1996.  He brings a wealth of experience in public health, mental health, and public health preparedness.  Prior to his tenure in the Office of the Secretary, CAPT Davidson served at the National Institutes of Health, St. Elizabeths Hospital , the Food and Drug Administration, the National Health Service Corps, the Health Resources and Services Administration, in the U.S. Army, and in the private sector.

Region VI

CAPT Epifanio (Epi) Elizondo, Health Services Officer, assumes the RHA role and responsibilities for public health leadership in Region VI which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas .  CAPT Elizondo has served as Acting RHA-VI in the Dallas office for the past 2 years.  He brings a broad background in health including service in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Medical Service Corps Officer, and in the U.S. Air Force as a Biomedical Science Corps Officer.  With over 25 years of experience, he brings public health, emergency preparedness and response, clinical, administrative, management, and health education expertise from his service in the military, the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, two State university systems, and from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Region VII

RADM John T. Babb, Pharmacist Officer, will assume leadership of Region VII as Mrs. Linda Vogel, the current RHA, retires at the end of the year after a long and stellar career in public health.  The Region consists of the States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska .  RADM Babb brings a wealth of expertise and skill gained from over 38 years of professional training and experience in public health, clinical practice, emergency preparedness and response, and management. An Assistant Surgeon General, he serves as the Director of the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment in the Office of the Surgeon General where he coordinates all Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) readiness for the Surgeon General and oversees recruitment, training, deployment, and assures competency of Corps officers in response.  He has served as Pharmacy Chief Professional Officer, where he advised the Surgeon General on all matters related to the practice of pharmacy.  He has held numerous leadership and responsible positions across the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and in the private sector.

Region VIII

CAPT Zachary Taylor, Medical Officer, will assume the RHA position in the Denver Regional Office and responsibilities for public health leadership.  Region VIII includes the States of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming .  CAPT Taylor comes from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where has been Chief of the Field Service and Evaluation Branch in the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination for the past 6 years.  As Chief, he manages a staff of 79 which includes 54 field staff assigned to 29 State and local Tuberculosis Control Programs.  CAPT Taylor is a career officer with 21 years of experience in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service.   He is board certified in Preventive Medicine and Public Health and has public health specialty training focused in systems management.  He brings experiences from CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Indian Health Service. He has authored numerous chapters in medical books, major public guidelines, government and non-governmental publications.