Elisabeth Armstrong Named Chief of Staff at NIH
Published April 06, 2026
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy OME Advocate
- On March 30, 2026, the NIH named Elisabeth Armstrong, DBe, as the new chief of staff in the Office of the Director, Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD. In the role, she will manage NIH operations and provide strategic counsel. She is replacing Seana Cranston, who resigned on March 9, 2026.
- Previously, Dr. Armstrong was director of the Office of the Executive Secretariat at the Food and Drug Administration, worked in healthcare policy equity research for Raymond James & Associates’ Global Equities and Investment and held various biotech and bioethics related roles in asset management, technology and healthcare. She also worked as an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist.