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# Commissioner Search Down to 3: BioCentury
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/commissioner-search-down-to-3-biocentury/
- Published: 2019-09-05T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T01:47:54.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5144929

Based on information from sources familiar with the process, BioCentury is reporting that HHS secretary **Alex Azar** has sent to the White House the names of three individuals as potential FDA commissioner. The online [report](https://www.biocentury.com/bc-extra/politics-policy/2019-09-04/fda-commissioner-search-narrowed-three?ref=fdaweb.com) identifies them as: 

- Acting commissioner **Ned Sharpless**;
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center chief medical executive **Stephen Hahn**; and
- Harvard Medical School professor **Alexa Kimball**.

BioCentury says that HHS assistant secretary for health **Brett Giroir** was dropped because the White House determined he would face an uphill battle for Senate confirmation.

Representatives of 57 health-related organizations and five former commissioners have [urged](https://www.fdaweb.com/sharpless-supporters-more-vocal/) that Sharpless be given the job.