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Robert J. Tosatto, R.Ph., M.P.H., M.B.A.

Captain, U.S. Public Health Service

CAPT Rob Tosatto

Director, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps
Office of the U.S. Surgeon General

Captain Rob Tosatto is the Director of the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps and the principal advisor to the Surgeon General and the Assistant Secretary of Health on issues of civilian volunteers and their participation in public health initiatives and preparedness/response activities. He is a strong advocate for building community resilience and engaging young members of our society in these efforts. He is directly responsible for overseeing the establishment, implementation, and coordination of MRC units in communities nationwide. Launched in 2002 as a way for medical, public health, and other volunteers to improve the health and safety of their communities, the MRC concept is now accepted across the nation, and MRC units have organized over 200,000 members.

Captain Tosatto has been a U.S. Public Health Service officer since 1988, and throughout his career, he has proven to be an effective leader, mentor, and colleague. He has previously completed tours of duty with the Office of Global Health Affairs, the DC Commission on Mental Health Services, and the Indian Health Service, including assignments on the Navajo, Fort Hall, and Pine Ridge reservations.

He is a recognized leader in the realm of emergency preparedness and response. He has been deployed on numerous occasions, including response missions following the anthrax mailings in 2001, Hurricane Katrina, and several national special security events, as well as “Operation Provide Refuge” ( a health clinic for Kosovar refugees).

Captain Tosatto is the recipient of numerous awards, including the USPHS Meritorious Service Medal and the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and master's degrees in public health and business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Rob provides the following “five things you probably don’t know about me:”

I worked as a professional rafting guide on the Cheat River in West Virginia.
My wife, Christy, and I have four children. Gillian and Sebastian are our “bio-kids;” Rosa and Ermias are siblings from Ethiopia that we adopted in 2004.
My dad was a Navy “Mustang” who started off as an enlisted aircraft mechanic on blimps, then advanced through the ranks and was commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer Submariner. He set an example for hard work, dedication, and humility that always stays with me.
I agree with Aristotle that the purpose of life is eudaimonia, and I strive to maintain a rich, full life with balance between my professional and personal pursuits. I promote an organizational culture where balance is valued.
I love being outside and active—especially with my family and friends. Rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking are a few of my favorite activities.

Last Updated on 2/26/2010