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Lyon Named Chief Deputy Director for Michigan Department of Community Health

July 28, 2011

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Director Olga Dazzo has named Nick Lyon Chief Deputy Director for MDCH effective Monday, July 25.

As Chief Deputy Director for the MDCH, Lyon will oversee day-to-day operations of the department's following administrations: Medical Services, Operations, Public Health, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The Office of Recipient Rights and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council will have a dual reporting relationship to Lyon and Dazzo. Lyon will also liaison with the Office of Services to the Aging and the Office of Health Services Inspector General for operating purposes.

The Chief Deputy Director also is responsible for assisting the director in crafting and implementing policies and programs that are critical to the department's mission.

"Mr. Lyon has been a strong leader throughout his tenure in the department," Dazzo said. "He has great administrative and leadership skills and knowledge of health-related issues, which are very important to the MDCH team. He has a proven track record that will help us continue to build our department and move it forward."

Lyon previously served as Deputy Director of MDCH's Operations Administration from November 2010 until his current appointment. In that capacity, he was responsible for the development and implementation of the $14 billion budget for all Medicaid, Behavioral Health, Public Health, Aging and other MDCH programs. He had previously served in this position from 2003 until his 2008 appointment as Deputy Director of the Health Policy and Regulation Administration.

Prior to joining the MDCH, Lyon, 42, served as the Director of the Office of Budget Development and General Government within the State Budget Office. He previously served as the Finance Officer for the Department of Attorney General.

Born and raised in the Lansing area, Lyon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Yale University in 1990. He resides in Marshall with his wife, Wendy, and their two children, Jake and Lauren.