Alex Azar

**Alex Michael Azar II** (born June 17, 1967) is an American politician and businessman. He was the 24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from January 29, 2018 to January 20, 2021. He was the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services under George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. From 2012 to 2017, Azar was President of Eli Lilly and Company. He was a member of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a pharmaceutical lobby.

On November 13, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Azar to be the next United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 2018.

## Early life

Azar was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Salisbury, Maryland. He studied at Dartmouth College and Yale University.

## Career

Azar was as a law clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and then as a law clerk for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1992 to 1993.

From 1994 to 1996, he served as an Associate Independent Counsel for Kenneth W. Starr in the United States Office of the Independent Counsel.

## Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (2005–2007)

On August 3, 2001, Azar was confirmed to be the General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

On July 22, 2005, Azar was confirmed as the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was twice confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate. He worked under Secretary Mike Leavitt. Azar resigned in January 2007.

## Business career

In June 2007, Azar joined Eli Lilly and Company as its Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications, where he led “Lilly public affairs and lobbying efforts.”

On January 1, 2012, Azar became President of Lilly USA, LLC, the largest division of Eli Lilly and Company and was responsible for the company's entire operations in the United States. In January 2017, Azar resigned from Eli Lilly.

## Secretary of Health and Human Services (since 2018)

On November 13, 2017, President Trump announced via Twitter that Azar was his nominee to be the next United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 2018. He was sworn in on January 29.

## Personal life

Azar is married to Jennifer Azar. They have two children. They live in Indianapolis, Indiana.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Alex Azar
- **image**: Alex Azar official portrait 2.jpg
- **office**: 24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
- **president**: Donald Trump
- **deputy**: Eric Hargan
- **term start**: January 29, 2018
- **term end**: January 20, 2021
- **predecessor**: Tom Price
- **successor**: Xavier Becerra
- **office1**: United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
- **president1**: George W. Bush
- **term start1**: July 22, 2005
- **term end1**: February 4, 2007
- **predecessor1**: Claude Allen
- **successor1**: Tevi Troy
- **office2**: General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
- **president2**: George W. Bush
- **term start2**: August 2001
- **term end2**: July 2005
- **predecessor2**: Harriet S. Rabb
- **successor2**: Daniel Meron
- **birth name**: Alex Michael Azar II
- **birth place**: Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- **spouse**: Jennifer
- **children**: 2
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
- **residence**: Indianapolis, Indiana
- **education**: Dartmouth College
Yale University