Denise Hinton

Denise Hinton is an American nurse and retired U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps rear admiral who last served as the acting surgeon general of the United States from January 20, 2025 to September 29, 2025. She also served as the deputy surgeon general of the United States from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that, she was the chief scientist of the Food and Drug Administration from 2017 to 2021.

Infobox

President

Donald Trump

Preceded by

Vivek Murthy

Education

Florida State University (BS)Boston University (MS)

Allegiance

United States

Branch/service

United States Air Force (formerly)United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Years of service

1990s (Air Force)2002–2025 (Public Health Service)

Rank

Rear Admiral

Tables

· References

Preceded byVivek Murthy

Military offices

Preceded byVivek Murthy

Military offices

Surgeon General of the United StatesActing 2025–present

Military offices

Incumbent

Military offices
Preceded byVivek Murthy	Surgeon General of the United StatesActing 2025–present	Incumbent

References

Facebook - Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service (COA)
https://www.facebook.com/COAUSPHS/posts/today-it-was-coas-honor-and-privilege-to-attend-the-retirement-ceremony-of-deput/1224400829725866/
THE FEM WORD
https://www.thefemword.world/her-story/a-talk-with-radm-denise-hinton-fda-chief-scientist
Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service
https://www.usphs.gov/leadership/deputy-surgeon-general/
Capital News
https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2020/12/us-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-statement/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/denise-hinton.html