<P> The CDC also operates the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP), a two - year paid fellowship for recent college graduates to work in public health agencies all over the United States . PHAP was founded in 2007 and currently has 159 associates in 34 states . </P> <P> The Director of CDC is a Senior Executive Service position that may be filled either by a career employee, or as a political appointment that does not require Senate confirmation, with the latter method typically being used . The director serves at the pleasure of the President and may be fired at any time . The CDC director concurrently serves as the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry . </P> <P> Sixteen directors have served the CDC or its predecessor agencies . </P> <Ul> <Li> Louis L. Williams Jr., MD (1942--1943) </Li> <Li> Mark D. Hollis, ScD (1944--1946) </Li> <Li> Raymond A. Vonderlehr, MD (1947--1951) </Li> <Li> Justin M. Andrews, ScD (1952--1953) </Li> <Li> Theodore J. Bauer, MD (1953--1956) </Li> <Li> Robert J. Anderson, MD, MPH (1956--1960) </Li> <Li> Clarence A. Smith, MD, MPH (1960--1962) </Li> <Li> James L. Goddard, MD, MPH (1962--1966) </Li> <Li> David J. Sencer, MD, MPH (1966--1977) </Li> <Li> William H. Foege, MD, MPH (1977--1983) </Li> <Li> James O. Mason, MD, MPH, Ph. D (1983--1989) </Li> <Li> William L. Roper, MD, MPH (1990--1993) </Li> <Li> David Satcher, MD, PhD (1993--1998) </Li> <Li> Jeffrey P. Koplan, MD, MPH (1998--2002) </Li> <Li> Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH (2002--2008) </Li> <Li> Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH (2009--Jan 2017) </Li> <Li> Anne Schuchat, MD, RADM USPHS (Jan--July 2017, acting) </Li> <Li> Brenda Fitzgerald, MD (July 2017--Jan 2018) </Li> <Li> Anne Schuchat, MD (Jan--Mar 2018, acting) </Li> <Li> Robert R. Redfield, MD (March 2018--present) </Li> </Ul>

The centers for disease control and prevention (cdc) is not a regulatory agency