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2006 Recipient: Michael O. Leavitt was sworn in as the 20th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on January 26, 2005. As secretary, he leads national efforts to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services to those in need. Prior to his current service, Leavitt served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Governor of Utah. While at EPA, Leavitt signed the Clean Air Diesel Rule, implemented new, more-protective air quality standards for ozone and fine particle pollution and organized a regional collaboration of national significance to clean and protect the Great Lakes.
Prior to his work in the Bush Administration, Sec. Leavitt was the nation's longest-serving governor. During his eleven years of service, Utah was recognized six times as one of America's best managed states. He was chosen by his peers as Chairman of the National Governors Association, Western Governors Association and Republican Governors Association because of his ability to solve problems across partisan lines. The application of technology is a passion for Secretary Leavitt. His understanding of the significance of technology and his articulation of the impact that the internet could have on society is evidenced in everything he as done in government over the past 14 years. He was one of the first government officials to recognize that the sociology of technology was more important than the technology itself and he provided the communications and leadership skills to bride the gap. During his tenure as Governor of Utah, the state's website was awarded "Best of Web," offering more than 260 services online. As Secretary of Health and Human Services he is committed to unleashing the power of technology to improve the quality of care, reduce mistakes and manage costs. He and his wife Jacalyn are the parents of five children.
