Seventeen shots were fired during a 1999 shootout at a Tucson intersection where Richard Carmona, then an off-duty deputy sheriff, killed an armed motorist. This event marked one intersection of his diverse career, which spans roles as a combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, a trauma surgeon, and the seventeenth Surgeon General of the United States.
Early Development and Military Service
Born in 1949 in New York City, Carmona was raised in Harlem. He withdrew from DeWitt Clinton High School at age 16 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967. While serving in the United States Army Special Forces as a combat medic during the Vietnam War, he earned his GED. His military service resulted in two Purple Heart awards and the Bronze Star Medal.
Academic and Medical Training
Following his military discharge, Carmona pursued extensive medical education. He attended Bronx Community College, obtaining an associate degree in nursing. He subsequently graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, with degrees in biology and chemistry in 1977, followed by a medical degree in 1979. He completed a surgical residency and specialized fellowships in trauma, burns, and critical care.
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Take the IQ test →Tenure as Surgeon General
Confirmed by the Senate in 2002 after a unanimous 98–0 vote, Carmona served as the seventeenth Surgeon General of the United States. His tenure featured a 2006 report categorizing secondhand smoke as a significant health hazard. After leaving office, he alleged that the George W. Bush administration attempted to suppress scientific findings regarding tobacco and public health risks.
Law Enforcement and Public Administration
Carmona maintained a concurrent career in public safety, working for the Pima County Sheriff's Department since 1986. He served as a SWAT team leader and medical director for police and fire divisions. His administrative experience included leadership roles within the Pima County health care system and serving as a professor at the University of Arizona.
Corporate and Community Roles
In later years, Carmona occupied board positions at Ross University School of Medicine, Herbalife, and the McKesson Corporation. He also served as vice chairman of the Canyon Ranch resort company and as a professor at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. He eventually led the COVID-19 response at the University of Arizona.
Fast facts
- Born: 1949, New York City
- Surgeon General Term: 2002–2006
- Military Decorations: Bronze Star Medal, two Purple Hearts
- Education: University of California, San Francisco; University of Arizona
- Political Party: Registered Independent
- Military Branch: United States Army Special Forces
Questions readers ask
Did Richard Carmona run for the United States Senate?
Yes, in 2011 he sought the Democratic nomination for a Senate seat in Arizona but was defeated by Jeff Flake.
What medical fields did Carmona specialize in?
He was a trained trauma surgeon, nurse, and paramedic with fellowships in burns and critical care.
Achievements
- Bronze Star Medal
- Held posts at University of Arizona
