Denise Hinton

Denise Hinton is an American nurse and retired U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps rear admiral who last served as the deputy surgeon general of the United States from October 2021 to September 2025. She also served as the acting surgeon general of the United States from January 20, 2025 to September 29, 2025. Prior to that, she was the chief scientist of the Food and Drug Administration from 2017 to 2021.

Life and career Hinton was raised in a military family. She earned her B.S. in nursing from Florida State University and a M.S. from Boston University. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Hinton has earned numerous awards throughout her career, including a USPHS Meritorious Service Medal, the American Public Health Association Presidential Citation, and an FDA's Commissioner Special Citation.