Obama Names Nonprofit Leader to Top Health and Human-Services Position

President-elect Barack Obama today nominated a nonprofit leader—William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids—as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Mr. Obama said in a statement that Mr. Corr would play a key role in improving the country’s health-care system and making it more affordable. “Bill Corr has the depth of experience and commitment to this issue necessary to take on this challenge,” he said.

Before joining the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids—a group in Washington that works to prevent smoking—in 2000, Mr. Corr worked for two years as chief counsel for Tom Daschle, then the Senate minority leader. Mr. Obama has nominated Mr. Daschle as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Mr. Corr previously served as chief of staff and deputy assistant secretary for health at the Health and Human Services Department in the Clinton administration and held several Congressional staff positions.

From 1974 to 1977, he directed four nonprofit community health-care centers in the Appalachian Mountains area of Tennessee and Kentucky.

Mr. Corr is also a member of a group that has been reviewing the Health and Human Services Department for the Obama transition team.