HHS Region 9 - Regional Director's Biography

Thomas E. Lorentzen was appointed Regional Director (Region IX) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in December of 2006.  The states in Region IX include California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific Jurisdictions. 

As Regional Director Lorentzen serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt in Region IX.  He also serves as Chair of the Federal Regional Council, which plays a coordinating role among Federal departments and agencies in Region IX and is a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Federal Executive Board.

Lorentzen has served in three Presidential administrations, including those of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and the current President, George W. Bush.  Prior appointments included: Consultant to the Under Secretary of Education; Special Assistant and Speech-Writer to the Secretary of Health & Human Services; Director of Private Sector Initiatives and Associate Administrator for Business Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration; Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration; and National Board Member to the Institute of Museum & Library Services.  He is a former member of the Advisory Board to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.

Lorentzen earned an M.A. degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and a B.A. degree from California State University, East Bay (both degrees are in Political Science).  He is a member of the Advisory Board to the California-Mexico Health Initiative that is implemented by the University of California.  He is a resident of Castro Valley, California and was born in Brooklyn, New York.  

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