Lester Crawford
Dr. Lester M. Crawford (born 1939) is a former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. On February 15, 2005, Dr. Crawford was nominated by President George W. Bush to head the FDA, pending U.S. Senate confirmation. A Senate committee approved his nomination on June 15, 2005, and he was approved by the Senate on July 18, 2005. He resigned, effective immediately, on September 23, 2005 in a surprise announcement. The FDA had been under constant criticism since before his nomination to the post. His appointment was embattled from the beginning as several senators had threatened to place holds on his confirmation vote until the FDA made a decision on whether or not to allow over-the-counter sales of the "Plan B" or "Morning-after" emergency contraception pills.
Biography
Prior to becoming FDA Commissioner Dr. Crawford had served as Deputy Commissioner of FDA since February 25, 2002. From 1997-2002, he was Director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Georgetown University and at Virginia Tech, where it moved in 2001.
He also served as Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA) from 1987 to 1991 as well as director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1982 to 1985. Previously in his career he was chair of the Department of Physiology-Pharmacology at the University of Georgia, executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and a practicing veterinarian.
Dr. Crawford received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Auburn University in 1963 and a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Georgia in 1969.
He has been married since 1963 to Catherine Walker of Birmingham, Alabama. They have two daughters, Leigh and Mary, and four grandchildren.
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