Don J. Wright

Donald John Wright[2] is an American physician, government official, and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Tanzania between 2020 and 2023.

Don J. Wright
United States Ambassador to Tanzania
In office
August 2, 2020 – January 11, 2023[1]
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byMark B. Childress
Succeeded byMichael Battle
Acting United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office
September 29, 2017 – October 10, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyEric Hargan
Preceded byTom Price
Succeeded byEric Hargan (Acting)
United States Assistant Secretary for Health
Acting
In office
February 10, 2017 – February 15, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKaren DeSalvo (acting)
Succeeded byBrett Giroir
In office
September 4, 2007 – March 28, 2008
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJohn O. Agwunobi
Succeeded byJoxel García
Personal details
Born
Donald John Wright
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Physician
  • government official
  • diplomat

Wright served as Acting United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for twelve days in 2017. He was designated by President Donald Trump after his predecessor, Tom Price, resigned on September 29, 2017, amid a charter-flight scandal.[3] Wright was replaced as acting secretary by newly confirmed Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on October 10, 2017.[4]

Education

Wright received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his family medicine residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to his medical degree, he holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin.[5]

Career

After completing his residency, Wright worked for 15 years in the private sector, maintaining an extensive clinical and consulting practice in Central Texas.[5]

From 2003 to 2007, Wright was Director of the Office of Occupational Medicine for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).[5]

Wright started at HHS in 2007, as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health. In 2009, he became Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Care Quality, and in 2012, he was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.[6] He continued in those positions after being replaced as acting Secretary of HHS.[3]

In October 2019, Wright was nominated to be the next United States Ambassador to Tanzania. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in December, received committee approval in January 2020, and was confirmed by voice vote of the full Senate on February 11, 2020.[7] Wright was sworn in on April 2, 2020, but did not present his credentials to President John Pombe Magufuli in Dar es Salaam until August 2, 2020.[8]

See also

References
  1. US Embassy Tanzania [@usembassytz] (January 11, 2023). "Staff of the U.S. Embassy gathered to bid farewell to Ambassador Wright, who completed his term as Ambassador today after two and a half years. We wish all the best to Balozi Wright and Kathy as they return to the U.S. t.co/ry6sgspgZI" (Tweet). Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. "Wright, Donald John – Republic of Tanzania – October 2019". U.S. Department of State. October 29, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  3. Goldstein, Amy; Wagner, John (September 29, 2017). "Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigns after criticism for taking charter flights at taxpayer expense". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  4. "Trump Announces Eric Hargan as Acting HHS Secretary". KTLA. October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  5. "Don Wright, M.D., M.P.H." blogs.cdc.gov. June 28, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  6. Valencia, Robert (September 29, 2017). "Tom Price is out, so it's time to get to know new HHS Secretary Don Wright". Newsweek. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  7. "PN1164 — Donald Wright — Department of State". U.S. Congress. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Ambassador Donald J. Wright Presents Credentials to President Magufuli". U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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