CAPT Jon Perez, PhD.

Region IX -Arizona, California, Hawaii, Guam, Nevada, American Samoa, CNMI, FSM, Marshall Islands, Palau

Captain Jon T. Perez, Ph.D
SAMHSA Regional Administrator
90 7th Street, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

CAPT Jon Perez, PhD is the Regional Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Region IX. His previous federal positions include directing small to large direct service programs, as well as providing national program and policy leadership as the Director of Behavioral Health for the Indian Health Service.

Dr. Perez is also well known for developing programs for disaster response and international health diplomacy efforts. He began his disaster relief work responding to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and has been actively involved in developing and deploying disaster teams internationally since then, first with civilian relief organizations, and now with multiple federal response groups. Among his most recent international missions are assignments as the behavioral health commander for initial U.S. tsunami relief efforts aboard USNS Mercy in Banda Aceh, and serving as the Senior Liaison Officer between coalition forces and the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health in 2007-2008. His most recent domestic deployments include leading health response teams for Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the Presidential Inauguration in 2009.

In addition to numerous other professional, military, academic, and civic honors, Dr. Perez received a letter of commendation from the President of the United States in 1991 for his pioneering work with military families in over 20 countries during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; the Secretary of Health and Human Services Distinguished Service Award in 2006 for his work on behalf of Louisiana school children following hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and the White Eagle Feather in 1999 from the people of the White Mountain Apache Tribe for his seven years’ work with them as their behavioral health director.

Dr. Perez is a native Californian who was raised, trained, and still lives in Region IX. In addition to California, he has also lived in Nevada and Arizona, and served in Hawaii on numerous military and civilian missions.

Last updated: 08/28/2012