William Winkenwerder Jr. is a physician and prominent American health care industry leader. From 2012 to 2014, he served as CEO at Highmark and as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He also has served in other executive positions within the health industry, including as founder of a health care strategy consulting firm focused on transformative change and innovative health care technologies. Education Winkenwerder graduated Davidson College with a BS in Pre-Med in 1976 and The University of North Carolina Medical School in 1981. In 1986, he received his Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania. Winkenwerder is board certified in internal medicine, and a fellow of The American College of Physicians. He has received awards and recognition from each of these institutions, post graduation, for his outstanding professional achievements in health care finance and management throughout the private and public sectors. Career Early career professional achievements Winkenwerder worked as a senior executive in the private health care industry. Of note was his early advocacy of evidence-based medicine, prevention and clinical practice guidelines, which are now widely viewed as significant elements for high standards of care. Winkenwerder served as an executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for Prudential Healthcare (now Aetna) and at Emory Healthcare of Emory University. AHIP, the national trade association for health plans and insurers asked him to join their board of directors. Department of Defense From October 2001 through April 2007 Winkenwerder served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in the United States Department of Defense. His senate confirmation was sponsored and presented to the US Senate Armed Services Committee by Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. At the Department of Defense, Winkenwerder was the leader of the Military Health System and the principal medical advisor to the Secretary of Defense, responsible for medical services provided to all active and retired military service members throughout all branches of service. With responsibility for a budget of $40 billion and over 130,000 personnel worldwide, the Military Health System Provides care for 9.2 million military service members and families through a global network of private physicians and more than 70 hospitals worldwide, known as TRICARE. During Winkenwerder's service there were significant advances in battlefield medicine, expanded mental health programs, and new benefits designated for U.S National Guard units and reservists. He led the global implementation of the Armed Forces