Eddie Darnell Evans

Mr. Eddie Evans, a 21-year veteran of the United States Army, is currently health care consultant and a retired Vice President for the international pharmaceutical company, sanofi.  Mr. Evans held several positions at sanofi as a Vice President over a career that spanned 18 years. He retired in 2011, as Vice President for Scientific and Intellectual Affairs. Immediately prior to that position, he was VP for Regional Advocacy, but for most of his career in the pharmaceutical industry he was the Head of the Washington office for sanofi or one of its predecessor companies. In his positions at sanofi, Mr. Evans was responsible for interacting with senior officials in the three branches of government, trade associations, business organizations, and other health groups to develop public policy that was mutually beneficial to the concerned parties.  Sanofi is the third largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in the world.

Prior to joining the sanofi-aventis team, Mr. Evans had an extensive career in the United States Army.  From 1992-1993, he was the Congressional Liaison for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)—OASD (HA).  In that position, he served as the principal liaison between the OASD (HA) and the Congress and provided liaison services with other federal agencies.  He assisted the OASD (HA) to defend the department’s $15 billion medical budget before several congressional committees, reviewed and evaluated studies, correspondence, and other material affecting health policy referred to the OASD (HA) for decision.  He apprised senior officials of significant congressional bills, laws, and actions resulting from committee hearings/briefings impacting health programs.  He developed broad goals, strategies, and objectives for OASD (HA) and provided technical guidance and assistance to senior analysts.

From 1987 until 1992 he served at the Office of the Army Surgeon General.  There he was responsible to the Surgeon General for promoting Army Healthcare programs before legislators, beneficiary groups, and other Army agencies to earn mutual accord and positive behavior to achieve Army healthcare objectives.  Mr. Evans assisted the Secretary of the Army Chief of Staff in defending the FY’92 medical portion of the Army’s budget.  Mr. Evans was also responsible for gathering and coordinating information from relevant subject matter experts when the Surgeon General testified about army health care programs before the Congress of the United States.  Although he himself did not testify, he would attend hearings, sit beyond the person testifying, and quietly supply an occasional detail as needed.

Mr. Evans began his career as a medical operations officer and platoon leader for an ambulance unit where he was responsible for two platoons at once due to personnel shortages.  Duty in a variety of billets followed:  internal review auditor, management analyst, budget analyst, and chief of plans and training.  He was later assigned as comptroller at the Walter Reed Army Institute on Research.  While there, the Institute did the initial research on Leishmaniasis, a disease that later became a problem during the Gulf War. Later he was the 7th Medical Command’s budget officer in Europe and the Comptroller for the military community hospital in Heidelberg, Germany.

Mr. Evans, graduated Cum Laude, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Florida A & M University in 1972 and received his Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University in 1982 and was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honor society.  Eddie and his late wife of over 40 years, Patsey, have two grown sons.  Also, he is a former member of the Maryland School for the Deaf’s Foundation Board and a current board member of the Children’s Charities Foundation, and the Board of Trustees at Meharry Medical College.  He is a member of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Society, Sigma Pi Phi, Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, The American Legion, and the Retired Officer’s Associations.