Richard Carmona Richard Henry Carmona ( born November 22 , 1949 ) is an American physician , police officer , public health administrator , and politician . He was a vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as the seventeenth Surgeon General of the United States . Appointed by President George W . Bush in 2002 , Carmona left office at the end of July 2006 upon the expiration of his term . After leaving office , Carmona was highly critical of the for suppressing scientific findings which conflicted with the Administration ' s ideological agenda . In August 2006 , Carmona returned home to Tucson , Arizona . In November 2011 , he announced he would seek the Democratic Party ' s nomination for United States Senate in the hopes of succeeding outgoing Republican Senator Jon Kyl , despite being registered as a political Independent . He lost to Republican challenger Senator Jeff Flake . Early life , education , and early career . Carmona was born in New York City , of Puerto Rican descent , and raised in Harlem . After dropping out of DeWitt Clinton High School at age 16 , he enlisted in the U . S . Army in 1967 . While enlisted , he received his General Educational Development ( GED ) , joined the United States Army Special Forces , became a combat - decorated Vietnam veteran , and began his career in medicine as a Special Forces Aidman , at the time the only medics in the world recognized under the Geneva Convention as armed combatants . After leaving active duty , Carmona attended the Bronx Community College of the City University of New York , where he earned his associate of arts degree in nursing . In 1977 , he graduated from the University of California , San Francisco ( UCSF ) , with a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry ; in 1979 , he received his medical degree from UCSF , where he was awarded the prestigious gold headed cane as the top graduate . In 1998 , he earned a Master ' s degree in Public Health ( M . P . H . ) from the University of Arizona . Medical career . Carmona worked in various positions in the medical field including paramedic , registered nurse , and physician . He completed a surgical residency at UCSF and a National Institutes of Health - sponsored fellowship in trauma , burns , and critical care . Carmona is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and certified in correctional health care and in quality assurance . Carmona has been Chairman of the Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System , Chief Medical Officer , hospital CEO , public health officer , and chief executive officer of the Pima County health care system . In 1997 , the Pima County system , which was in financial trouble before he was appointed , continued to lose millions of dollars and he resigned . Carmona was not in control of the assets of the system but was held responsible for them . Carmona was also a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona . Law enforcement career . He worked for the Pima County Sheriff ' s Department since 1986 . He eventually worked his way up to deputy sheriff . He served as medical director of the county ' s police and fire departments . He was a peace officer leader of the SWAT division , with expertise in special operations and emergency preparedness , including weapons of mass destruction . In 1999 , he confronted a mentally - ill person who was assaulting someone else at a car accident . After the person would not step out of his car , he shot at Carmona , grazing his head , and the Deputy Sheriff shot back seven times , killing him . The deceased was an ex - convict who had shot and killed his own father that day . In 2000 , Carmona was honored at the National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS award ceremony . Surgeon General . Nomination . President Bush nominated Carmona to become the 17th Surgeon General of the United States in March 2002 . During the nomination process , Carmona was questioned about his management style and the amount of time it took him to become board - certified in his field . Carmona described himself as an " agent of change " willing to question the status quo , but that he always treated " patients , staff , and co - workers with respect . " Senators on both sides of the aisle praised Carmona ' s qualifications and supported his nomination ; he was confirmed by the U . S . Senate on July 23 , 2002 by a vote of 98 - 0 . Secondhand smoke . In 2006 , Carmona released a landmark Surgeon General ' s report on the health effects of secondhand smoke . Carmona ' s report underlined the risks of secondhand smoke exposure , stating : " The debate is over . The science is clear : Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance , but a serious health hazard . " The report encouraged the adoption of indoor smoking ban s and noted that such bans did not appear to have a harmful economic effect on bars and restaurants . After leaving office , Carmona testified before Congress that the had tried for years to " water down " his findings on the dangers of secondhand smoke , and had pressured him not to testify in the tobacco industry ' s racketeering trial . In earlier testimony before the U . S . Congress , Carmona stated that he would not object to a ban on all tobacco products " if Congress chose to go that way . " The Bush Administration distanced itself from this statement . Post - Surgeon General career . Carmona is currently vice chairman of the Canyon Ranch resort and spa company , president of the non - profit Canyon Ranch Institute , and a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona . On June 16 , 2010 , Ross University School of Medicine named Carmona to its Board of Trustees . In 2006 , Republicans attempted to recruit Carmona to run for Congress in Arizona ' s 8th congressional district , but he declined . Criticism of Bush administration . On July 10 , 2007 , Carmona , along with former Surgeons General C . Everett Koop and David Satcher , testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about political and ideological interference with the Surgeon General ' s mission . Carmona accused the of preventing him from speaking out on certain public health issues such as embryonic stem cell research , global climate change , emergency contraception , and abstinence - only sex education , where the Administration ' s political stance conflicted with scientific and medical opinion . Carmona also testified that the Bush Administration had attempted for years to " water down " his report on the dangers of secondhand smoke and pressured him not to testify in the tobacco industry ' s racketeering trial : " Anything that doesn ' t fit into the political appointees ' ideological , theological or political agenda is ignored , marginalized or simply buried . " According to Carmona , he was even ordered not to attend the Special Olympics because the event was sponsored by the Kennedy family , and was told to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches . The " Washington Post " subsequently identified William R . Steiger as the Bush Administration official who had blocked release of Carmona ' s report on global health because it conflicted with the Administration ' s political priorities . Reuters reported that Carmona ' s predecessors as Surgeon General had acknowledged the high level of political interference he experienced , saying : " We have never seen it as partisan , as malicious , as vindictive , as mean - spirited as it is today , and you clearly have worse than anyone ' s had . " 2012 U . S . Senate election . Carmona was the Democratic nominee for U . S . Senate in Arizona in the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Jon Kyl . Carmona said that he would bring his experience in science and medicine to the Senate , which will inform his analytical approach to the issues . He has been critical of politicians like Todd Akin and said that health issues should not be politicized . On November 6 , 2012 , he lost to Republican challenger Jeff Flake . Personal life . Carmona is married to Diana Sanchez . They have two daughters and two sons . Carmona resides in Tucson , Arizona .