During the 2026 College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (CPHS) graduation ceremony, Rear Admiral Brandon L. Taylor was recognized as the recipient of the CPHS Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor presented by the CPHS Alumni Association. The award recognizes graduates whose careers exemplify excellence while strengthening the community of alumni, students, faculty and friends of CPHS through professional achievement and commitment to service.
A 1998 Doctor of Pharmacy graduate, RADM Taylor has built an extraordinary career dedicated to advancing public health and improving the well-being of communities across the nation. He currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this role, he has led national initiatives that shape the health priorities of the United States, including Healthy People 2030 and the development of national health guidelines.
“Dr. Taylor’s career is a powerful example of what it means to lead with purpose and serve others,” said Eliana Wood (’15 PharmD/ MSCR), immediate past president of the CPHS Alumni Board. “His impact on public health and his continued commitment to improving lives reflect the very best of the Campbell tradition, and we are incredibly proud to recognize him with this honor.”
Throughout his distinguished career in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, RADM Taylor has held numerous leadership roles focused on improving health outcomes, supporting underserved populations, and strengthening public health systems. His work reflects the core values of Campbell and CPHS through leadership, service, and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of others.
Previously, RADM Brandon L. Taylor served as Director of Defense Health Agency Public Health (DHA), where he led the largest transformation of military public health since World War II by overseeing the integration of Army, Navy, and Air Force public health assets into the DHA. He also directed joint force health protection efforts supporting service members, their families, civilians, and working animals.
RADM Taylor has dedicated his career to improving access to care in underserved communities throughout the world. An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and the Seneca Cayuga Nation, he served as Chief of Staff for the Indian Health Service from 2018 to 2021, where he helped oversee agency operations and support national healthcare initiatives serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. From 2014 to 2018, he also served as an IHS Commissioned Corps Liaison, advising officers, tribal leaders, and senior officials on matters related to the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
His service began while he was a student pharmacist at Campbell, completing officer externships with the Federal Bureau of Prisons before launching a career that would span nearly three decades. Over 28 years of federal service, he has led national and global efforts, including deployments supporting public health initiatives in Afghanistan and recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
RADM Taylor’s career has been recognized with numerous honors, including the USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, and the 2022 George F. Archambault Career Achievement in Pharmacy Award, among many others.
This announcement comes at a meaningful moment in RADM Taylor’s journey. After 28 years of distinguished federal service, he is retiring and beginning a new chapter focused on service. This summer, he and his wife, Jennifer, will begin a three-year mission in Africa as mission leaders through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences community proudly recognizes Rear Admiral Brandon L. Taylor for his outstanding leadership, service, and professional achievement as the 2026 recipient of the CPHS Distinguished Alumni Award.
