Denise Hinton

Denise Hinton
Official portrait, 2021
Acting Surgeon General of the United States
In office
January 20, 2025 – September 29, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byVivek Murthy
Succeeded byStephanie Haridopolos (PDO)
Deputy Surgeon General of the United States
In office
October 2021 – September 29, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byErica Schwartz
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
EducationFlorida State University (BS)
Boston University (MS)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force (formerly)
USPHS Commissioned Corps
Years of service1990s (Air Force)
2002–2025 (Public Health Service)
Rank Rear Admiral
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Denise Hinton is an American nurse and retired U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps rear admiral who last served as the deputy surgeon general of the United States from October 2021 to September 2025. She also was performing the duties of the 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.