Mike Leavitt

Michael Okerlund Leavitt, born February 11, 1951, is an American public servant who has held several high‑level positions in federal and state government. He served as Utah’s governor from 1993 to 2003, was appointed by President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2003 to 2005, and later became the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2005 until the end of Bush’s second term in 2009. His career has spanned business leadership, state governance, environmental regulation, and national health policy.

Early life and career

Leavitt was born in Cedar City, Utah, to Phyllis Anne (Okerlund) and Dixie L. Leavitt. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Southern Utah University before entering the private sector. In 1972 he joined The Leavitt Group, an insurance and risk‑management firm founded by his father. Over the next two decades he rose to become president and chief executive officer of the company, overseeing its expansion into new markets.

During this period, Le Leavitt also served on several corporate boards, including Utah Power and Light, and was appointed to the Utah State Board of Regents. As a regent he helped supervise the state’s nine public colleges and universities, and for four years chaired Southern Utah University’s board of trustees. His early career in business and education governance laid the groundwork for his later public service.

Le Leavitt’s first foray into politics occurred in 1976 when he assisted his father—then a Utah state senator—in an unsuccessful campaign for governor. He continued to support statewide campaigns throughout the 1980s, working on U.S. Senate races for Jake Garn and Orrin Hatch. These experiences provided him with insight into electoral strategy and public policy issues.

Cabinet tenure

Le Leavitt entered elective office when he was elected Governor of Utah in 1992. He served three consecutive terms—re‑elected in 1996 with the largest vote total in state history, and again in 2000 as only the second governor in Utah’s history to win a third term. During his governorship, he pursued a number of initiatives that had lasting impacts on education, infrastructure, and public policy.

He was instrumental in establishing Western Governors University in 1997, an online institution created by a coalition of state governors. He also championed the creation of charter schools in Utah and oversaw preparations for the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City. In addition to these achievements, he modernized the state’s sales‑tax system to include e‑commerce transactions, negotiated large land exchanges between Utah and the federal government, launched an engineering education initiative, worked on welfare devolution to the states, and created the Utah Centennial Highway Fund, which employed a design‑build approach to highway construction.

In August 2003 President Bush nominated Le Leavitt as Administrator of the EPA. The Senate confirmed him on October 28, 2003, by an 88–8 vote; he was sworn in on November 5, 2003, after resigning as governor. As EPA administrator, he implemented higher standards for ozone and diesel fuels, among other air pollutants. He organized a federal effort to clean up the Great Lakes and co‑authored an environmental policy known as Enlibra.

On December 13, 2004, Le Leavitt was nominated by President Bush to succeed Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Senate confirmed him on January 26, 2005, by voice vote. During his four years in the department he oversaw several major initiatives: the implementation of Medicare Part D, the development of a National Pandemic Plan, promotion of value‑based health care models, mitigation efforts following Hurricane Katrina, expansion of FDA offices into China, India, and South America, and reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). His tenure was marked by a focus on improving federal health programs and strengthening national preparedness for public health emergencies.

Legacy

Le Leavitt’s career reflects a broad engagement with public policy across multiple sectors. As governor, he fostered educational innovation and infrastructure development that continue to influence Utah’s growth trajectory. At the EPA, his regulatory actions contributed to advances in air quality standards and environmental cleanup efforts. In HHS, his leadership helped shape Medicare benefits, pandemic preparedness, and international regulatory outreach.

After leaving federal office, Le Leavitt has worked as a health‑care advisor, investor, and independent corporate director. In August 2021 he became president of the Tabernacle Choir, bringing his experience in organizational leadership to one of Utah’s most renowned cultural institutions. His post‑government career demonstrates continued involvement in both public service and private enterprise.

Le Leavitt’s record illustrates a commitment to governance that spans state and federal levels, with lasting effects on education policy, environmental regulation, and national health care administration. His contributions have been recognized through his appointments by the Bush administration and ongoing roles in civic and business organizations.