Still Without a Commissioner, FDA Announces New Deputy Commissioner

WASHINGTON--The search for a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (www.fda.gov) commissioner may be nearing an end. Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson named Lester Crawford Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., to serve as FDA deputy commissioner, where he will be the senior official pending the installment of a permanent commissioner. He begins immediately.

"Lester Crawford has devoted his career to promoting safer products for the public, and he brings to FDA valuable experience and leadership skills," Thompson stated. "With his help, FDA will continue to build on its successes in ensuring the safety of foods, drugs and medical products for all Americans."

Crawford replaces Bernard Schwetz, D.V.M., Ph.D., who has served as acting principal deputy commissioner since Jan. 21, 2001, the day after President Bush was sworn in and then-commissioner Jane Henney, M.D., was not rehired. Schwetz, senior advisor for science, will continue to work on public health and FDA issues within the agency.

Crawford most recently served as head of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Virginia Tech, and from 1987 to 1991, he served as administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service. He has also served as director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1982 to 1985.

He received his doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Georgia and has also served as executive vice president of the National Food Processors Association.