Honorary Degree Recipient
Denise M. Hinton
Doctor of Science
Photo by Bruce Smallwood
Rear Admiral Denise M. Hinton (MET’13) is a distinguished nurse, leader, scientist, and public health executive whose career has been defined by service, innovation, and national impact. In 2025, she retired as the Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, in which role she advised the Surgeon General and senior Department of Health and Human Services leadership on public health policy, Commissioned Corps operations, and national health security. She also oversaw major organizational and personnel functions, helped guide service-wide strategy, and supported the largest deployment of Commissioned Corps officers in history during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to serving as Deputy Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Hinton held several senior leadership roles at the US Food and Drug Administration, including chief scientist and deputy chief scientist, and senior executive positions in medical and regulatory policy. As chief scientist, her executive and scientific leadership encompassed the FDA’s research, innovation, scientific integrity, laboratory safety, counterterrorism, and health informatics portfolios. She led major cross-agency scientific initiatives, strengthened regulatory science capacity, supported expedited development of diagnostics and therapeutics during COVID-19, advanced partnerships across government and academia, and oversaw millions of dollars in research funding, scientific training, and innovation programs.
An American Academy of Nursing fellow since 2020, Rear Admiral Hinton has been widely recognized for excellence in leadership, management, and public service. Her honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, the American Public Health Association Presidential Citation, the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Management, and multiple commendation and achievement medals.
Rear Admiral Hinton earned a BS in nursing from Florida State University and an MS in health communication from Boston University. Her career reflects a remarkable and steadfast commitment to advancing science, strengthening public health systems, mentoring future leaders, and protecting the safety of the nation.