DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & MENTAL HYGIENE

SECRETARIES

FORMER SECRETARIES

[photo, Van T. Mitchell, Maryland Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene] VAN T. MITCHELL
Secretary of Health & Mental Hygiene, 2015-16

Principal Deputy Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, October 1, 2004 to January 17, 2007. Member, Interagency Disabilities, Board, 2004-07; Homeland Security Senior Policy Group, 2004-07; Maryland Commission on Disabilities, 2005-06.

Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, February 13, 2015 to December 15, 2016. Acting Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, January 21 to February 13, 2015. Member, Governor's Executive Council, 2015-16; Children's Cabinet, 2015-16 Smart Growth Subcabinet, 2015-16. Chair, State Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council, 2015-16; Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, 2015; Board of Trustees, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, 2015-16; Governor's Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council, 2015-16.

Co-Chair, Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, 2015. Member, Task Force on the Maryland Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program, 2015-16; Advisory Board on After-School and Summer Opportunity Programs, 2015-16; Interagency Committee on Aging Services, 2015-16; Governor's Intergovernmental Commission for Agriculture, 2015-16; Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Board, 2015-16; Advisory Council for Alternative Response, 2015-16; Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, 2015-16; Asbestos Oversight Committee, 2015-16; Behavioral Health Advisory Council, 2015-16; State Child Fatality Review Team, 2015-16; Governor's Commission for Effective Community Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2015; Task Force on the Disposition of the Crownsville Hospital Center Property 2015-16; Interagency Disabilities Board, 2015-16; State Early Childhood Advisory Council, 2015-16; State Emergency Medical Services Board, 2015-16; Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, 2015-16; Governor's Family Violence Council, 2015-16; Interagency Food Desert Advisory Committee, 2015-16; Maryland Green Purchasing Committee, 2015-16; Health and Human Services Referral Board, 2015-16. Board of Directors, Maryland Health Insurance Plan, 2015-16. Member, Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, 2015-16; Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2015-16; State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation, 2015-16; Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission, 2015-16; Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs, 2015-16; Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities, 2015-16; Council on Open Data, 2015-16; Pesticide Advisory Committee, 2015-16; Maryland Pesticide Reporting and Information Work Group, 2015; State Postmortem Examiners Commission, 2015-16; Advisory Board on Prescription-Drug Monitoring, 2015-16; Council for the Procurement of Health, Educational and Social Services, 2015-16; Rural Maryland Council, 2015-16; Work Group to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking, 2015-16; Maryland School-Based Health Center Policy Advisory Council, 2015; Maryland Council on Advancement of School-Based Health Centers, 2015-16; Sexual Offender Advisory Board, 2015-16; Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention, 2015-16; Maryland Veterans Trust, 2015-16; Governor’s Warrior to Worker Council, 2015-16; Work Group on Collateral Consequences of Convictions, 2016; Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board, 2016; Work Group on Rural Health Care Delivery, 2016; Task Force to Combat Habitual Student Truancy, 2016.

Member, Business District Commission, Town of La Plata, 1993-95. Board of Trustees, Charles County Community College, 1993-95.

Member of House of Delegates (Democrat), representing District 28, Charles County, January 11, 1995 to September 30, 2004. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 1995-2003 (unemployment insurance subcommittee, 1995-96; real property subcommittee, 1995-98; health insurance subcommittee, 1999-2003; chair, workers' compensation subcommittee, 1999-2003). House Chair, Workers' Compensation Benefit and Insurance Oversight Committee, 1999-2003 (member, 1997-2003). Member, House Facilities Committee, 1999-2004; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2003; Appropriations Committee, 2003-04 (capital budget subcommittee, 2003-04; oversight committee on pensions, 2003-04; chair, health & human resources subcommittee, 2003-04); Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2003-04. House Chair, Joint Audit Committee, 2003-04. Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 2004. Chair, Southern Maryland Delegation, 1996-2002. Chair, Charles County Delegation, 2003-04.

Member, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Task Force, 1995; Maryland Advisory Commission on Manufacturing Competitiveness, 1995-2004; Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, 1995-2004; Governor's Task Force to Study the Injured Workers' Insurance Fund, 1999-2000; Rebuild La Plata Task Force, 2002.

Born in La Plata, Maryland, November 28, 1955. Attended La Plata High School, La Plata, Maryland; Campbell University, 1974. President and Chief Executive Officer, MSI, Inc., 1985-2006. Associate, Manis, Canning and Associates, 2008-15. Member, Democratic Central Committee, Charles County, 1982-86. Board member, County First Bank; Eastern Group Insurance Trust. Member, Suburban Maryland Home Builders Industry Association. Past president, Home Owners' Warranty (HOW) Council. Past vice-president, Charles County United Way. Past member, Charles County Fair Board; Mattawoman Art Center Board; Charles County Community College Foundation. Married; two children.

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