Susan Orsega, DSc(hc), FAANP, FAAN, MS, NP, serves as the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Services Policy and Oversight, which is within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. In this senior executive service appointment, Orsega leads a team of subject matter experts in establishing and overseeing military health system policies for military personnel, retirees, and their families. Her team provides medical advice and consultation to senior defense officials, Congress, and other Department of Defense stakeholders. Prior to this role, Orsega retired at the rank of Rear Admiral Upper Half, United States Public Health Service (USPHS) after 34 years of service, including serving as Acting U.S. Surgeon General. The first nurse practitioner to hold this position, she was chosen for her leadership and executive presence within the government, as well as her strategic operational expertise during health crises. In 2019, she was selected as USPHS director and managed activation of the largest historical deployment of the USPHS officers in support of international and national COVID-19 efforts. Earlier in her career, Orsega held various positions with progressive responsibility at the National Institutes of Health. Notably, she was selected to lead research operations partnerships in multiple African countries during periods of emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

She has deployed to 15 public health crises around the world, including New York City after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States Capitol following an Anthrax terrorist event, New Orleans following devastation from Hurricane Katrina, and the Pacific region in support of the Department of Defense’s Pacific Peleliu humanitarian mission.

Orsega's focus is addressing pressing issues of public health and health policy. She works to collaborate and influence people to implement necessary changes while navigating complex government regulations, legislation, policies, and organizational structures.

Orsega earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University and a Master of Science from the Nurse Practitioner Program, Uniformed Services University, both in Bethesda, Maryland. She later received honorary doctorates from USUHS and Georgetown University. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.