Art Kleinschmidt, Ph.D. was appointed as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In this capacity, Dr. Kleinschmidt will provide overall leadership of mental health and substance use disorder treatment, prevention, recovery services, intergovernmental and public affairs, agency operations, as well as budget, and financial management for the newly created Administration for a Healthy America.
Dr. Kleinschmidt has served in several leadership roles during his time in the federal government. He was appointed as a Senior Advisor for Substance Abuse at SAMHSA in 2017, and later served as a subject matter expert for mental health and addiction-related issues on the White House Domestic Policy Council. While on the Domestic Policy Council he co-authored the Executive Order #13954 Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental and Behavioral Health Needs during the COVID pandemic. He later received a Presidential Appointment from President Trump to assume the position of Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy. As the Deputy Director, Dr. Kleinschmidt received classified briefings on Drug Trafficking Organizations, border security, and was instrumental in crafting the President’s National Drug Control Strategy.
Dr. Kleinschmidt is a licensed mental professional and a licensed addiction counselor. He completed his clinical training at Hazelden Betty Ford. His work has focused on delivering direct treatment services for over two decades by providing individuals, families, and couples with substance use disorders, serious mental illness, and behavioral health complications with crucial and life-saving services. His experience working on multidisciplinary teams in both residential and outpatient and in private practice has resulted in being nationally recognized as a subject matter expert on the nexus between mental health, substance use disorders and criminal justice. Dr. Kleinschmidt has published articles for the Washington Times, Fox News, and the Washington Examiner.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Kleinschmidt earned an MBA and was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in his home state of Louisiana. He has business experience running a nonprofit organization in support of individuals in need of substance use treatment. This provided a strong foundation for his public health leadership.
Dr. Kleinschmidt has many personal connections to supporting individuals, families, and communities connect to treatment and move towards paths of recovery. As an individual living in active recovery since January 4, 2002, he has served as a volunteer peer worker assisting individuals in early recovery while living in the recovery community in St. Paul, Minnesota.