President Bush appointed RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, MD, USPHS of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services, on July 26, 2006. Dr. Vanderwagen's prior post was Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services.

RADM Vanderwagen has also served as Director of the Office of Clinical and Preventative Services and Acting Chief Medical Officer at Indian Health Service. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief of Public Health of the Coalition Provisional Authority for the Iraq Ministry of Health. Dr. Vanderwagen received his bachelor's degree from Calvin College and Seminary. He later received his MD from Michigan State University.

RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen was the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Public Health Service, and Chief Professional Officer of the Physician Category from September 1, 1999 until mid-2005.

RADM Vanderwagen began his career with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in 1981. His initial assignment was in the IHS Albuquerque Area Office as a General Medical Officer at the Zuni Indian Hospital. He also served as the clinical director at Zuni prior to his move to Rockville, Maryland, in 1983.

Upon his assignment to Rockville at IHS Headquarters East, RADM Vanderwagen assumed a staff role in support of the Chief Medical Officer of the IHS. He served in this capacity until 1984 when he was made Acting Director of the Division of Clinical and Environmental Services. In 1986, he was selected as Director of the Division of Clinical and Preventive Services. As the Director for the Division of Clinical and Preventive Services, RADM Vanderwagen was responsible for the full scope of clinical healthcare programs, including quality assurance and preventive programs. Technical and policy guidance is issued for IHS direct and tribal health programs for a wide variety of healthcare programs including alcohol and substance abuse, dental services, diabetes and other chronic disease prevention, mental health, emergency medical services, nutrition and dietetics, nursing services, pharmacy services, and maternal and child health.

RADM Vanderwagen has served in other leadership positions in IHS. He has been the Acting Area Director, Aberdeen Area IHS, with responsibility for health services in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Iowa. He has been the Acting Director, Office of Health Programs, with responsibilities for the clinical and public health programs, sanitation and health facilities construction, and for health care finance activities. He has also served as the Agency Lead Negotiator in the implementation of Tribal Self Governance Compact. In this role, RADM Vanderwagen was engaged in the initial planning and implementation of this landmark transfer of resources and public health responsibilities to tribal governments and has negotiated the annual transfer of more than $300 million to tribes.

RADM Vanderwagen has received many awards and commendations since he began work for the IHS. These include the Meritorious Service Medal, Outstanding Service Medal, Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, PHS Citation, and Unit awards of the Commissioned Corps, as well as Secretarial awards and tribal recognitions.