Considering the CTP was established in 2009, the role of CTP director is such a new position that only two people have ever held the title: Zeller and Lawrence Deyton, pictured here, who held the role from 2009 through 2013.
The position oversees all tasks and employees of the CTP. According to the FDA’s website, the director of the CTP “leads FDA’s efforts to reduce disease and death from tobacco use and bring previously unavailable information about its dangers to light.” It “is dedicated to carrying out CTP’s charge to reduce the harm from all tobacco products across the entire population—with a focus on how and why people start, stop or start using these products again.”
The CTP director is appointed by and reports to the FDA commissioner.