First Openly Transgender Four-Star Officer Is Sworn in at HHS

U.S. Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine was sworn in as a full admiral Tuesday, making her the first openly transgender four-star officer in the U.S. uniformed services.

Levine is now the highest-ranking official, and first female four-star admiral, in the U.S. Public Health Services Commissioned Corps. She will work alongside U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to direct 6,000 Public Health Service officers who advance health and safety for vulnerable communities.

The corps is “committed to the health of our nation,” Levine said in an interview, and she expects to bring a health equity lens to ...