CAPT Carmen Clelland, PharmD, MPA

Associate Director for Tribal Support

CAPT Carmen Clelland, PharmD, MPA, is the associate director for tribal support. In this role, he coordinates CDC programs and policies that benefit or affect American Indian/Alaska Native populations. The Tribal Support Unit is the primary link between CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, and tribal governments. Tribal Support Unit activities focus on fulfilling CDC's supportive role in ensuring that American Indian/Alaska Native communities receive public health services that keep them safe and healthy.

CAPT Carmen Clelland is a USPHS Commissioned Corps Pharmacy Officer with more than 26 years of healthcare experience and more than 20 years working with American Indian/Alaska Native communities. He is also an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He began his public health service career as an ambulatory care resident in Winslow, Arizona, with the Navajo Nation. He then worked in multiple areas within the Indian Health Service as a pharmacist, ambulatory care pharmacist, and chief pharmacist. Throughout his career, CAPT Clelland has worked throughout Indian Country and in many roles. He has had permanent or temporary duty assignments in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Maryland.

In 2004, CAPT Clelland’s roles became more administrative, policy, and leadership focused when he became director of professional services for the Hopi Health Care Center. From there, he had roles as a director of quality management at Winslow Indian Health Care Center, chief of Health Professions Support and director of Health Professions Support at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and chief executive officer at Clinton Service Unit, Clinton, Oklahoma.

CAPT Clelland received his doctor of pharmacy degree and undergraduate degree in pharmacy from the University of Oklahoma. He completed a masters of public administration in Homeland Security Policy and Coordination from Walden University and is currently a masters of public health candidate at The George Washington University. He most recently completed The George Washington University Health Care Corporate Compliance certificate course. He has numerous awards including the USPHS Outstanding Service Medal, USPHS Commendation Medal, USPHS Achievement Medal, and other honor and service awards.