Mike Leavitt

Mike Leavitt
Name	Michael O. Leavitt
Birth date	1951-02-11
Birth place	Cedar City, Utah, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Utah State University; University of Utah
Occupation	Politician; businessman
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Deedee Leavitt

Mike Leavitt

Michael O. Leavitt is an American politician and executive who served as the 14th Governor of Utah and later as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. He is a member of the Republican Party and has led public- and private-sector organizations, including nonprofit initiatives and global advisory firms. Leavitt's career spans state-level executive leadership, federal cabinet service, and corporate and philanthropic governance.

Early life and education

Leavitt was born in Cedar City, Utah, and raised in a family with roots in Iron County, Utah and the Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He attended Cedar City High School before enrolling at Utah State University and later the University of Utah, where he studied business and public administration. Early influences included regional figures such as Wallace F. Bennett, Orrin Hatch, and local civic leaders in St. George, Utah and Salt Lake City, Utah. During his formative years he engaged with organizations linked to Brigham Young University alumni networks and participated in community institutions including Iron County civic associations and Boy Scouts of America councils.

Political career

Leavitt entered politics through local and state Republican channels, aligning with leaders in the Republican Party such as Bob Bennett and collaborating with lawmakers in the Utah State Legislature including speakers and committee chairs. He served as mayor of Cedar City, Utah and later held executive posts in state agencies, interfacing with governors and state officials like Norm Bangerter and Michael Leavitt's contemporaries. His statewide profile grew through campaigns that connected him to national conservatives, interacting with figures such as Newt Gingrich, Richard Lugar, and policy networks in Washington, D.C. including think tanks and advocacy groups.

Governor of Utah (1993–2003)

As Governor of Utah, Leavitt presided over ten years of state policy during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. His tenure involved collaboration with the Utah State Legislature, local governments in Salt Lake County, Utah and Utah County, Utah, and federal entities including the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Department of Transportation. He emphasized economic development tied to industries represented by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, tourism linked to Skiing in Utah destinations such as Park City, Utah and Snowbird, Utah, and public lands issues involving Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service jurisdictions like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. Leavitt worked with governors from other states—such as Penny Pritzker's contemporaries and regional governors in the Western Governors Association—on water policy, air quality, and land-use planning. His administration engaged with educational institutions including University of Utah and Utah State University on workforce and research initiatives, and coordinated with federal agencies on disaster preparedness during events that required liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Leavitt was nominated and confirmed as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency by President George W. Bush, overseeing the agency's regulatory programs and national environmental policy. In that role he interacted with members of the United States Congress—including committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—and with state environmental directors from agencies like the California Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. He focused on initiatives that involved the Clean Air Act and collaborations with international counterparts from Canada and Mexico on cross-border environmental issues. His tenure included engagement with industry groups, environmental nonprofits, and scientific bodies such as the National Academy of Sciences and the Environmental Protection Network.

Secretary of Health and Human Services (Acting) and other federal roles

Leavitt served as Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Bush administration, coordinating with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. He also chaired federal interagency efforts and advisory councils, working alongside officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Management and Budget, and congressional leaders from both parties. His federal roles entailed crisis response collaboration with state governors and health departments, and policy discussions with nonprofit health organizations such as the American Medical Association and advocacy groups like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Post-political career and private sector work

After leaving federal service Leavitt entered the private and nonprofit sectors, founding and leading organizations that advised on public policy, infrastructure, and sustainability. He became chairman and CEO of a consultancy working with global corporations, state governments, and international institutions including the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He served on corporate boards and nonprofit boards alongside leaders from Goldman Sachs, Cisco Systems, and philanthropic organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Leavitt has been active in conservation and urban planning initiatives, partnering with groups like the Sierra Club and the National Governors Association, and he participates in advisory roles at universities including Harvard University and Stanford University programs focused on public policy and environmental studies.

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Utah Category:United States Environmental Protection Agency administrators Category:United States Secretaries of Health and Human Services