Don J. Wright Explained

Office:United States Ambassador to Tanzania
President:Donald Trump
Joe Biden
Term Start:August 2, 2020
Term End:January 11, 2023[1]
Predecessor:Mark B. Childress
Successor:Michael Battle
Office1:Acting United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
President1:Donald Trump
Deputy1:Eric Hargan
Term Start1:September 29, 2017
Term End1:October 10, 2017
Predecessor1:Tom Price
Successor1:Eric Hargan (Acting)
Office2:United States Assistant Secretary for Health
Acting
President2:Donald Trump
Term Start2:February 10, 2017
Term End2:February 15, 2018
Predecessor2:Karen DeSalvo (acting)
Successor2:Brett Giroir
President3:George W. Bush
Term Start3:September 4, 2007
Term End3:March 28, 2008
Predecessor3:John O. Agwunobi
Successor3:Joxel García
Birth Name:Donald John Wright
Nationality:American

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

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.

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

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.

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. US Embassy Tanzania . usembassytz . 1613192172450504704 . 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. https://t.co/ry6sgspgZI . en . February 17, 2023.
  2. Web site: Wright, Donald John – Republic of Tanzania – October 2019 . October 29, 2019 . U.S. Department of State . August 13, 2020 . en .
  3. News: Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigns after criticism for taking charter flights at taxpayer expense. Goldstein. Amy. September 29, 2017. Washington Post. September 29, 2017. Wagner. John. en-US . 0190-8286.
  4. Web site: Trump Announces Eric Hargan as Acting HHS Secretary. KTLA. October 10, 2017. October 10, 2017.
  5. Web site: Don Wright, M.D., M.P.H.. June 28, 2016. blogs.cdc.gov. en-us. September 30, 2017. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084534/https://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/authors/don-wright-m-d-m-p-h/. dead.
  6. News: Tom Price is out, so it's time to get to know new HHS Secretary Don Wright. Valencia. Robert. September 29, 2017. Newsweek. September 30, 2017. en.
  7. Web site: PN1164 — Donald Wright — Department of State . February 11, 2020 . U.S. Congress . February 12, 2020 . en .
  8. Web site: U.S. Ambassador Donald J. Wright Presents Credentials to President Magufuli . August 2, 2020 . U.S. Embassy in Tanzania . August 13, 2020 . en .