On July 13, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the choice of Benjamin for the position of Surgeon General of the United States[13][14][15][16] and as a Medical Director in the regular corps of the Public Health Service.[17] On October 7, 2009, Benjamin was unanimously approved by the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.[18] Benjamin was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on October 29, 2009.[17]